Three charged in stabbing death at Leominster apartment complex

LEOMINSTER — A Fitchburg man has been charged with murder and two others are charged with assault and battery in connection with Tuesday’s stabbing death outside of a building at the Riverside Village Apartments at 24 State St.

Juan Diaz Contreras, 19, of 25 Forest St. No. 1, Fitchburg, was arrested Thursday night without incident at his home after police sought a warrant for his arrest. He is charged with murder.

Edgar K. Perez-Tuero, 21, of 21 Marquette St., Gardner, and Christian Joel Santiago, 19, of 5 State St., Apt. L, Leominster, were also arrested on warrants as a result of the investigation. They are charged with assault and battery.

About 1 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to the report of a stabbing outside at the Riverside Village Apartments.

Upon arrival, officers found Robert Wright-Day, 20, suffering from a “visible stab wound to his abdomen,” according to the statement of facts.

Wright-Day was transported to UMass Memorial HealthAlliance Clinton Hospital — Leominster Campus, where he was pronounced dead, according to Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

Surveillance footage from the apartment complex shows that several vehicles arrived there about 12:30 a.m., according to a statement of facts filed with court records. The vehicles parked in a small parking lot next to the complex’s administrative building. Approximately 30 individuals exited their vehicles and gathered in the area, according to the records.

Roughly 20 minutes later, several individuals were seen running back to their vehicles and quickly driving away, according to the statement of facts.

Phone-recorded video shows a suspect carrying a “shiny object,” consistent in appearance with a “sharp-edged instrument,” in his right hand, the statement shows. A witness identified Contreras, also known as “Super Juan,” as the man holding the “shiny object,” according to the statement.

In addition, the witness said that during the fight, Contreras said twice in Spanish, “Le meti eso,” which means in English, “I put it in him,” according to the statement of facts.

The witness also said that Contreras said, “Yo lo hice,” which means “I did it” in English, according to the statement of facts.

After he heard those statements from Contreras, the witness saw the victim bleeding, according to the statement of facts.

Another witness said Perez-Tuero started the fight before the stabbing and punched the victim in the back of the head as he turned away. The witness saw “multiple suspects” striking the victim on the ground on the hill after Perez-Tuero allegedly started the fight, according to the statement of facts.

Moments later, the victim was seen collapsing near his car, according to the statement of facts.

Another witness identified Santiago as one of the subjects at the top of the hill striking the victim with his fist.

Contreras is being held without bail, according to court documents signed by Judge Gerald A. Lemire.

A pretrial conference for Contreras is slated for June 14 in Leominster District Court.

Perez-Tuero and Santiago were arraigned Friday in Fitchburg District Court. Bail for each men was set at $10,000 cash/$100,000 surety. Both are due back June 7 for a pretrial conference at Leominster District Court.

In front of the apartment at 22 State St., there is a shrine for the victim. A row of candles spell out "Robbie." Flowers, stuffed animals, balloons and a cross are also displayed at the memorial.

Obituary Robert Todd Wright-Day

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Three charged in stabbing death at Leominster apartment complex