Holyoke has 2nd killing in as many days as man found dead behind Las Chicas Market on Appleton Street

The first murder of 2011 occurred early Sunday outside a High Street bar.

Republican file photo

View full sizeStaff photo by Michael BeswickA state police detective searches the area behind 341 Appleton St. for evidence following Monday night's fatal shooting. The victim can be seen in the background under a sheet.

View full sizeStaff photo by Michael BeswickHampden County District Attorney Mark Mastroianni is briefed by a detective at the scene of Monday night's homicide in Holyoke

Update, 11:15 p.m.: Juan C. Perez, 26, of 374 Maple St. has been charged with the killing, Holyoke Police Capt. Arthur R. Monfette said.
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HOLYOKE – Police are investigating the city’s second murder of the year and second in two days.

A man’s body was found in a parking lot behind Las Chicas Market, 341 Appleton St., about 7:30 p.m.

Acting Police Chief Federick J. Seklecki confirmed a man was murdered, but said police had limited details and he didn’t have the victim’s name.

“They’re still interviewing witnesses. I don’t have a name yet,” Seklecki said.

Kenneth Torres, 15, said it was his brother, Raynando Fuentes, who was killed. Fuentes was 25, one of eight children and worked at a construction job in Northampton, Torres said.

The family lives in a four-story apartment building at Appleton and Elm streets,’

“I don’t know why this happened. He didn’t get into problems with nobody. I can’t believe this happened,” Torres said.

The brothers used to hang out together, said Torres, who said the victim’s nickname was “Goldo.”

A clerk who said he worked at Las Chicas Market and didn’t want his name used said he heard three or four gunshots but didn’t see anything.

The killing didn’t appear to be related to the city’s first murder of 2011, Seklecki said, which occurred about 1:30 a.m. Sunday outside The Clover Cafe, 104 High St.

In that case, Oscar Castro , 26, of 23 Essex St., died from a single gunshot to the head in what police said was a street gang-related killing.

At Appleton and Elm streets, more than 100 people, many of them visibly upset, had gathered at the site of the killing about 8 p.m. Police closed off parts of Appleton and Elm streets.

Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni was on the scene and later met with detectives at the Police Station on Appleton Street.

Two homicides in Holyoke in 2 days

View Pioneer Valley Homicides, 2011 in a larger map