Franklin M. Laras Charged With Christmas Eve Murder in Lawrence

A Lawrence man has been arrested for fatally shooting another man on Christmas Eve at a bar in that city, according to the office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker.

Franklin M. Laras, 27, is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Salem Superior Court on charges of allegedly killing Edward Javier-Perez, 29, Tucker’s office said in a statement.

Javier-Perez was fatally shot at the Energy Lounge on Broadway in the early morning hours of Dec. 24, 2023, according to Tucker’s office.

The police intervened at around 00:20 and paramedics treated him on site.

He was taken by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead, Tucker’s office said in a statement in December.

No further information was available Thursday evening.

You can contact Ethan Cotler at [email protected].