March 1, 2018
For Immediate Release
Contact: Paul Jarvey (508) 368-7241
WORCESTER — Edwin R. Novas will be arraigned in Worcester Superior Court tomorrow in the Christmas Eve 1999 shooting death of a man outside a Main South nightclub, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
Mr. Novas, 39, had been at large from the time of the shooting until being arrested Aug. 9 in his native Dominican Republic. A presidential decree granting extradition was issued on Jan. 4, and the suspect was returned to the United States today accompanied by U.S. Marshals.
Mr. Novas is being charged in the death of 26-year-old Danny Nicacio. Mr. Nicacio was shot in the chest about 2 a.m., Dec. 24, 1999, outside the former Tropigala Nightclub at 816 Main St. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital a short time later.
A second man, Armando Maisonet Jr., was shot in the left shoulder and survived his injury.
A Worcester County grand jury indicted Mr. Novas on Jan. 16, 2002 on charges of murder, armed assault to murder, possession of a large capacity firearm, possession of a firearm without and FID card and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
“This arraignment is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people,” Mr. Early said. “A lot of credit goes to Worcester Police detectives who conducted a thorough investigation and identified Edwin Novas as the suspect. I want to thank authorities in the Dominican Republic for their arrest of Mr. Novas and their cooperation in facilitating his return to face justice. I also want to thank members of my staff for their efforts in the lengthy extradition process as well as U.S. Rep. James McGovern and the Dept. of Justice for helping to get things moving. The U.S. Marshals deserve thanks for bringing him back.”
Assistant District Attorney Terry J. McLaughlin will prosecute the case.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Edwin Novas will be arraigned after 9:30 a.m., Friday, in the Worcester County Courthouse, Courtroom 18.