Police Chief David Del Papa praises the successful conviction of a man who threatened to shoot and kill a mechanic at a Holbrook auto body shop in 2022 during a dispute about repairs to his car.
On Wednesday, Brian Enwonwu, 31, of Malden, was found guilty of multiple charges, including firearms, assault and drug offenses, and was sentenced to a five- to seven-year prison term for unlawful possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and concurrent prison terms for lesser charges.
In September 2022, Enwonwu confronted a mechanic with a handgun in Holbrook. At one point, he loaded the magazine, ejected a bullet from the weapon and forced the victim to hold the bullet to his temple.
Enwonwu threatened to kill the terrified mechanic and demanded that his car be repaired by the following morning. The next day, the victim told police the defendant contacted him and told him he was on the way to the repair shop, forcing the shop to close. With police on the lookout, Enwonwu was stopped in Randolph about 100 yards from the shop and arrested.
Inside the car, police found a loaded handgun, a large amount of cash and two plastic baggies containing almost 10 grams of cocaine.
Holbrook Police thank the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, Randolph Police, and METRO-LEC partners for their collaboration through the investigation and prosecution.
“This case is a clear example of how strong investigative work and interagency coordination can stop a dangerous situation before someone is seriously hurt,” said Chief Del Papa. “Our officers acted quickly and worked with our law enforcement partners to protect the victim and our community.”