Second man charged in connection with April murder in Chelsea
BOSTON, July 2, 2025 – A second man has been charged in connection with a shooting earlier this year that left 20-year-old Julio Catalan of Chelsea dead, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
JONATAN HERNANDEZ MOLINA, 23, of Lynn was charged Monday in Suffolk Superior Court with possession of a firearm and carrying a loaded firearm. Clerk Magistrate Edward Curley set bail at $7500 and ordered Molina to stay away from the shooting location and have no contact with witnesses. Curley ordered Molina to wear a GPS bracelet if released. Molina will return to court August 19 for a probable cause hearing.
CARLOS UTRERA, 27, of Lynn was charged in April with murder and ordered held without bail. Utrera’s next court date is August 26.
In the early morning hours of April 26 Utrera and Molina were in the area of Watts Street in Chelsea staking out Isaac Ortega, Catalan’s step-brother, in order to attack him. Video surveillance over the course of two hours shows Molina continually adjusting his waistband and later shows what appears to be a heavily-weighted object in his hooded sweatshirt pocket.
Shortly after 12:30 a.m. Utrera and Molina attempted to drag Ortega off his front porch. Ortega ran back inside his home. As Utrera and Molina walked away, Catalan exited the home and attempted to speak to them. The pair began to run. While fleeing, Utrera produced a firearm and shot, striking Catalan in the head. Catalan later died from his injuries.
Molina told police he brought the gun to the scene and gave it to Utrera shortly before the two attempted to grab Ortega. He also told police he took the gun back after the shooting. Police later found the gun in Molina’s apartment.
“These defendants’ terrible decisions and terrible actions that early morning ended Julio Catalan’s young life, decisions and actions that now have them facing serious charges in court. As in all homicide cases, the impacts go far beyond the immediate people involved. The lives of families and loved ones are forever changed as well,” Hayden said.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications