A Mexican national was charged with murder after one person was killed and two others were injured on board a fishing vessel off Nantucket.
Federal prosecutors say 27-year-old Franklin Freddy Meave Vazquez, a crew member on the Captain Billy Haver, an 82-foot fishing vessel, attacked three shipmates Sunday afternoon.
According to the office of U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, Vazquez was armed with a hammer and a knife when he assaulted one victim, who then saw another victim lying on the deck, bleeding. Vazquez then allegedly struck a third crew member before climbing up the mast as the people on board tried to capture him.
A German cruise ship that was nearby met up with the trawler and took two of the injured fishermen aboard. One of the men was pronounced dead soon after by that ship's doctor.
A Coast Guard cutter was dispatched to the scene and then accompanied the trawler back to Boston where further investigation will be conducted.
The fishing trawler, based out of Seaford, Virginia, was 60 miles east of Nantucket at the time of the incident.
Vazquez faces one count of murder and one count of attempted murder. Citing court documents, Lelling's office says Vazquez is an undocumented immigrant who was arrested in March in Newport News, Vriginia, on charges of abduction by force, intimidation or deception. He had been released on bond.
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If convicted of both charges, Vazquez could face life in prison and $500,000 in fines.
None of the victims' names have been released.
