
MALDEN, Mass. —
Two men wanted in connection with a deadly shooting in Malden appeared in court Thursday.
Jeury Batista, 23, of Salem, was shot and killed at the Bowdoin Apartments on March 2.
Josue Espada, 20, of Malden, and Yahia Mastouri, 18, of Malden, were arrested at a hotel in California last week during a separate investigation.
Espada and Mastouri met the victim and his girlfriend behind the Bowdoin apartment in Malden in order to sell two pounds of marijuana, prosecutors said, and they began to fight over the price.
Prosecutors allege Mastouri pulled the trigger as the victim’s girlfriend tried to drive away. Espada is charged as an accessory.
The bullet went through Batista’s left forearm and into his torso.
“We’ve heard one version of the case so far the commonwealth’s version and another version is yet to come,” said defense attorney Michael Tumposky.