LOWELL, Mass. — A 21-year-old Lowell man has been arrested and charged in connection with a fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old Monday night.
At 7 p.m. Lowell Police responded to a stabbing in the area of Lawrence Drive near the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus. There, police found 18-year-old Asiatic Alvarez of Lowell and transported him to Lowell General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
"My son was a great man, he was a good boy, well loved. They took his life too early, too early," Alvarez's father said.
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Tuesday afternoon, police arrested 21-year-old Victor Crespo of Lowell and charged him with second-degree murder. He has also been charged with two counts of violating a restraining order.
Authorities say Alvarez and Crespo arranged on Facebook to meet so Alvarez and a friend could buy a half ounce of marijuana. Investigators say when the teens showed up, there was a disagreement over the amount of weed and that's when Crespo allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Alvarez multiple times before fleeing the scene.
Family members of the victim are crying in court as prosecutors outline the alleged murder @boston25
— Kathryn Burcham (@kathrynburcham) January 29, 2019
According to court documents, Crespo admitted to stabbing Alvarez but claimed it was self-defense.
A judge allowed Crespo to hide from the cameras as he pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder Tuesday.
The investigation is ongoing.
Family members tell Boston 25 News they will be holding a vigil at the scene of the stabbing Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate Alvarez's life.
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