Man Arraigned in Fatal Shooting of New Bedford Teen

BOSTON — The man charged in the shooting death of New Bedford teenager Nalijah Andrade was arraigned Monday in Suffolk Superior Court.

Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said 21-year-old Messiah Leggett of Mattapan was formally charged with involuntary murder and unlawful possession of a firearm on Sept. 20.

The charges come after 17-year-old Andrade was accidentally shot in the head during a party in a Boston hotel room in February.

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A second man, Kenny Jnleys, is charged with firearm offenses for allegedly bringing the gun to the party, according to the D.A.'s office.

He is expected to be arraigned Oct. 5.

The two men, along with four juvenile girls and others, were at a party in a room at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Boston on Feb. 4.

According to the District Attorney's office, they were drinking and taking selfies with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

Leggett was holding the gun when it accidentally discharged into Andrade's head, killing her.

His bail was set at $25,000 and he was ordered to remain under home confinement with GPS monitoring and not to leave the state.

Leggett is due back in court Oct. 21.

“At age 17, Nalijah should have been preparing for all the rites of passage that young people experience – prom, senior year of high school, touring colleges," said Rollins.

"Instead, her family was forced to bury their beloved daughter because of the reckless actions of others. We can never give her family back what they’ve lost, but we will hold accountable the individuals responsible for her death."