A second suspect pled not guilty Wednesday morning to multiple assault charges in connection with a Dec. 3 attack on four Boston University athletes.
Boston and Hingham, Mass., police arrested Ronald B. Twombly, Jr., 23, at 3 p.m. Tuesday and charged the Hingham resident with assault with intent to murder with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious injury, and affray (starting a public fight).
“Twombly is believed to be responsible for the most serious assault,” Boston Police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said.
Police believe Twombly, who was arraigned this morning at Brighton District Court, attacked 22-year-old Kevin Schaeffer with a baseball bat, sending the senior hockey player to the hospital with a broken orbital bone and a dislocated thumb. Schaeffer underwent surgery Dec. 12.
Brighton Court Judge David Donnelly set Twombly’s bail at $15,000, ordering him to stay out of Brighton, avoid contact with the victims, remain free of drugs and alcohol and submit to random substance testing while his case is pending, according to Jake Wark, deputy press secretary of the district attorney’s office.
Donnelly ordered Twombly to return to court Jan. 3 for a pre-trial conference, Wark said.
The Dec. 3 altercation occurred outside 9 Wadsworth St. in Allston at 4 a.m., when three to eight men with baseball bats, hammers and wrenches attacked three senior hockey players and a junior lacrosse player.
Schaeffer, the most seriously injured, and captain Sean Sullivan were transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, while goalie and assistant captain John Curry received minor injuries. Junior lacrosse player Lauren Morton was struck in the jaw with a baseball bat but was not hospitalized.
Hockey coach Jack Parker has said the assault was the result of an earlier scuffle between different members of the men’s hockey team and two unknown assailants, one of whom was reportedly involved in both incidents.
On Dec. 7, Boston Police arrested 23-year-old Sean Melanson of Hingham for his alleged involvement in the incident. Melanson was charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon and threats to commit crime and will return to court Jan. 11.
Twombly could not be reached for comment.
Daily Free Press staff reporter Matt Negrin contributed to this article.
