Suspect wanted in connection to South End assault turns himself in

BOSTON — One of the men accused of beating up another man and leaving him for dead in Boston's South End neighborhood faced a judge on Wednesday.

Michael Kenney, 40, of Weymouth, was arrested on a warrant out of Boston Municipal Court after turning himself in to police on Tuesday afternoon, Boston Police said.

Kenney is facing charges for assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and assault and battery.

Peering out from underneath a deep black hood, Kenney faced a judge Wednesday, 10 days after being captured on camera after a violent assault in the South End.

"This is a particularly egregious crime, the Commonwealth treats it as such," said Assistant District Attorney Sylvester Paschal.

Authorities say he is one of four men wanted in connection to the beating that left a man with life-threatening injuries.

Prosecutors say Chris Smith and a friend were out at J.J. Foley's and walked next door for some food, when they had an exchange with a woman inside the restaurant.

Moments later, investigators say a group of men accosted Smith and his friend outside.

"The group of males began escalating the argument," Sylvester said.

Prosecutors say Smith and his friend tried to run, but Kenney and others followed, throwing punches.

"Mr. Kenney lifted Mr. Smith up off his feet, causing Mr. Smith's legs to go over his head, then he slammed Mr. Smith to the sidewalk," Sylvester said.

Smith lost consciousness and was left with 52 staples in his head after a brain bleed.

Smith's mother stood up for him in court today, as two of the women caught on camera with Kenney before the assault fled the courtroom.

"I'm Christopher Smiths’ mother and father and just want to let you know, we are here," Smith's mother told the court.

Kenney's attorney said his client, a father of one, has no criminal record. As Kenney's wife prepared to bail him out of jail, saying they want their day in court.

"We’re coping with this," Kenney's wife said.

Although prosecutors named three other people with Kenney involved in that altercation, including those two women seen on surveillance video and in the courtroom, no other charges have been filed.

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On Feb. 9 at around 2:45 a.m., Boston Police officers responded to a call for a person screaming for help in the area of Harrison Avenue and Fay Street in the South End.

At the scene, officers found 22-year-old Chris Smith severely beaten and lying on the floor in a semi-conscious state.

When police arrived, witnesses told them a group of three white men assaulted the victim, punching him multiple times before slamming him to the ground.

"He had brain swelling, he had to get emergency brain surgery," Smith's father said. "He's cut from here to the top of his head, it was life and death."

Smith's father said his son was out with his friends eating Mexican food when they got into a fight.

"Some people accused him about coming on to some girl, which didn't happen, and they started beating up on him and his friends," Smith's father said.

Following the assault, police put out pictures of four suspects they were looking to identify in connection to the incident.

Kenney is the first arrest in this case. He faced a judge Wednesday who imposed $5,000 cash bail and ordered him to stay away from the victim, witnesses, the Bostonian Market at Harrison and Fay streets and JJ Foleys.

Kenney has been ordered to stay away from here and the victims. He is due back in court on March 29.

Cox Media Group