BOSTON (WHDH) - A Boston man accused of shooting and killing someone inside his home faced a judge in a Dorchester courtroom Thursday.
Prosecutors said Angel Rivera, 30, of Dorchester, called 911 just after 1:30 a.m. Thursday, telling police he shot a man trying to break into a multi-family home on Bloomfield Street.
Rivera was arrested and charged with manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. His attorney said his client had no choice.
“He’s in his home, he has a reasonable fear at 1:30 in the morning that somebody is in the house who shouldn’t be there. He’s in fear for his own life, he’s in fear for his wife and his mother, and so if he does something to defend himself, it’s completely understandable,” Rivera’s attorney said in court Thursday.
Numerous officers and detectives responded to the scene around 1:45 a.m. following report of a breaking and entering and a person shot.
“On arrival, the officers located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds inside an apartment in the multi family dwelling,” police said in a statement. “The victim was pronounced by Boston EMS on scene.”
Rivera’s mother was in the house at the time of the shooting and is standing by her son.
“I know my son is innocent,” Rivera’s mother told 7NEWS.
Police have not yet identified the victim.
Investigators said they didn’t find any signs of a break in when they arrived. Prosecutors also said Rivera didn’t have a license for the gun.
Rivera remains in custody and is due back in court at the end of the month.
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