Worcester Police Department
WPD Detectives Arrest Male and Charge Two Others in 2019 Murder of 18-Year-Old Tafar Lewis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/3/2026 3:43 pm
WPD Detectives Arrest Male and Charge Two Others in 2019 Murder of 18-Year-Old Tafar Lewis
On Friday April 3, 2026, Detectives from the Worcester Police Department Detective Bureau, Unresolved Homicide Unit, Crime Gun Unit and Gang Unit with assistance from the Worcester Police Department EOP Unit, arrested 26-year-old Juan Ruiz, on a warrant, charging him with murder.
The warrant is the result of a lengthy and ongoing investigation into the July 2019 shooting death of 18-year-old Tafar Lewis. On July 2, 2019, Lewis was shot and killed outside of 59 Gage Street.
Since the murder of Lewis, detectives and prosecutors from Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr’s Office, have worked to bring closure to the family of Lewis and hold those individuals responsible for Lewis’ death accountable.
Recently, Worcester Police detectives, with assistance from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office developed new information regarding the death of Lewis. With this new information, detectives, working with prosecutors from DA Early Jr’s office, were able to develop probable cause to charge three individuals, Juan Ruiz, Juan Otero and Mugisha Jean-Bosco with murder.
Ruiz was arrested today without incident. Otero and Jean-Bosco are in federal and state custody, respectively on unrelated charges.
These charges are a result of the dedication and hard work of detectives and prosecutors in the pursuit of justice.