Malden teen, 18, charged with murder in Chelsea stabbing

Suspect allegedly killed 44-year-old man with kitchen knife

By Steve Freker

A Malden teen, 18, is being held without bail on a murder charge after he allegedly stabbed a 44-year-old man with a kitchen knife during a fight on a busy Chelsea street late Saturday night.

Joksin Briones-Blandon, of Malden, was arraigned in Chelsea District Court Monday morning and charged with first-degree murder. Judge Kimberly Foster ordered Briones-Blandon held without bail and set August 20 for a probable cause hearing.

According to prosecutors, the fight and alleged stabbing incident was caught on a nearby surveillance video camera and details were revealed in court on Monday.

The case is being investigated by Chelsea Police and Mass. State Police assigned to the office of Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden.

Briones-Blandon allegedly stabbed Santos Cartegena, 44, multiple times while engaged in a fight with Cartegena and a third man, who has not been identified by name.

Prosecutors in court Monday said that despite sustaining multiple stab wounds, Cartegena still managed to drive himself to CHA Everett Hospital. From there he was transported to Beth Israel Hospital, where Cartegena underwent emergency surgery. The victim was pronounced dead early Sunday morning.

According to authorities, close to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, Chelsea police responded to reports of several men fighting at the intersection of Highland and Grove streets.

Apparently, the altercation was over when police arrived and the victim had already made his way to the Everett hospital.  According to prosecutors, police investigators obtained surveillance video, which showed three men fighting at the Chelsea intersection.

Prosecutors said that at one point the combatants separate, but they said the video then shows Briones-Blandon grab a kitchen knife from a backpack and then stab Cartagena in the back.

With police investigators still on the scene, prosecutors said Briones-Blandon was taken into custody shortly after the fight when he apparently returned to the area, attempting to retrieve a motorcycle he allegedly left behind.

Chelsea Police took Briones-Blandon to the Chelsea Police station where he was questioned and then arrested in connection with the incident, according to reports.

Suffolk DA Hayden said Monday the investigation of the murder is continuing.
“This was an exceptionally violent incident that was captured on video, giving investigators valuable information to help determine what happened and who was involved.  I offer my deepest sympathies to Mr. Cartegena and his family and friends,” Hayden said in a press statement released Monday.