Police have arrested an individual in connection with the shooting at a Bangladeshi youth in Roxbury neighbourhood of Boston.
The victim, Tanjim Siam, 25, is now on life support at Boston Medical Center with two bullets remaining lodged in his head.
Boston Police said Stephon Samuel, 25, of Lynn, was in custody at the Plymouth County House of Corrections on unrelated charges, reports wcvb.com.
According to police, he was charged with armed robbery by means of a firearm, armed assault with intent to murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition and armed career criminal level 1.
TANJIM SIAM update:Getting a flight out of Dhaka, Bangladesh was nearly impossible. After spending hours on the phone w/@emirates, Siam’s family is enroute to Boston. Keep them in your thoughts, as the 25y/o remains on life support. ?? @boston25 pic.twitter.com/rYDnbAv66E
— Malini Basu (@MaliniBasu_) August 4, 2020
Police said Samuel's arrest follows an investigation by the Boston Police homicide unit, the Forensics unit in combination with the Brockton Police Department, and the FBI Boston Violent Crimes Task Force, according to the report.
Brockton police said Samuel was taken into custody a day after the Motel 6 was robbed at gunpoint early on the morning of July 22.
A Brockton police news release said Samuel is "a suspect who police departments across the state have made inquiries about regarding similar crimes in their community."
On July 14, Siam, who was a staff member of M&R convenience store located at Shawmut Avenue, was shot in the head during an armed robbery at the store.
Despite complying with the robber's demands, the suspect shot Siam in the head.
Stephon Samuel | WCVB
Special prayers were offered Friday afternoon at the Islamic Cultural Center of Medford for Siam.
With aspirations to go to college, he immigrated to the United States from Bangladesh earlier this year with a hope of a better future for him and his family members.
Meanwhile, family members of the victim were finally able to fly into New York City on August 3 with the help of the Boston Convenience Store Owners' Association, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Ed Markey.
Siam's family cleared Covid-19 protocols on August 4 and arrived at Boston Medical Center the next day.
His parents and his younger brothers, 14 and 6, are praying for a miracle and are pleading with the public to help bring the shooter to justice.
A GoFundMe page setup to help pay for Siam's medical expenses and help support his family has raised more than $66,000 of its $75,000 goal.