Victim in Christmas Eve Attack Has Died
Additional charges expected against alleged attacker
BOSTON, January 12, 2020— Bruce Rose, who was violently attacked inside his Roxbury home on Christmas Eve, has died of the injuries he suffered in the attack. In the wake of Mr. Rose’s death, Suffolk prosecutors expect to arraign WYSE RICHARDSON, 23, on new, upgraded charges.
Mr. Richardson was previously arraigned on December 28, 2020, in the Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court on charges of aggravated assault and battery on a person over 60 and aggravated burglary in connection with the attack. At that time, Judge Debra Delvecchio ordered him to undergo an evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital.
The pending case against Mr. Richardson is expected to return to court on Friday, January 15, 2021. Prosecutors expect that Mr. Richardson will be arraigned on new charges during that court appearance.
“My office is here to provide Mr. Rose’s loved ones with the support they need as the case against the man accused of killing Mr. Rose moves forward. The Victim Witness Advocates assigned to my Homicide Unit are available to connect family members and others impacted by Mr. Rose’s death with the services and resources they may need to cope with their grief and begin the long process of healing,” District Attorney Rachael Rollins said. “Mr. Richardson is accused of a violent attack that robbed Mr. Rose of his life. He will be held accountable for the harm he is alleged to have inflicted.”
Mr. Richardson is accused of breaking into a Pompeii Street apartment building and violently beating a 66-year-old resident and ransacking the man’s apartment at approximately 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The victim suffered a serious head injury and was transported to an area hospital, where he died today.
Assistant District Attorney Tara Burdman of DA Rollins’ Homicide Unit is prosecuting the case. Elise McConnell is the assigned Victim Witness Advocate.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.