SOURCE: Case against Cambridge man may be connected to MIT officer death

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) – A Cambridge man was in court Tuesday after being arrested on gun and drug charges. Two sources told FOX 25 that authorities have linked the gun to the murder of MIT Police Officer Sean Collier.

Stephen Silva, 21, of Cambridge was arrested Monday night and charged with distributing heroin and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The gun was a Ruger model P95 9mm pistol, which is the same type of gun reportedly used in the shooting of Collier. Marathon suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Tamerlan Tsarnaev allegedly shot Collier days after the bombings when the brothers were trying to make a getaway. A spokeswoman from the US Attorney’s office declined to confirm the connection.

One of Silva's neighbors told FOX 25 that approximately 20 federal agents appeared at Silva's apartment around 7 p.m. Monday, searched the residence, and arrested the 21-year-old. The neighbor also said he saw the agents removing boxes from the apartment.?

Silva was good friends with Tsarnaev as the pair attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin high school together, a neighbor said. Silva has a twin brother, who was reportedly even closer to Tsarnaev.

Jonathan Shapiro, a lawyer for Silva, released the following statement Tuesday: "I am representing Stephen Silva who is charged with a number of offenses, including the possession of a firearm in February of 2013. According to news reports, law enforcement officials say it is the same weapon that was used, some months later, in the MIT Officer Sean Collier shooting. However, this has not been charged in the indictment. I am in the process of meeting with my client and reviewing the available evidence, which will eventually be presented in a court of law in accordance with our system of justice. Out of respect for that system and for my client, I cannot make any further comment on the case."

Transit authorities had arrested Silva in November at a T stop on marijuana charges, according to court papers released Wednesday.

During the arrest, he allegedly said, "I smoke a lot of week every day because my best friend was the bomber."

Silva is due next in court on Aug. 6.

Cox Media Group