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Road Rage May Have Led To Murder Of Lynn Delivery Driver

LYNN (CBS) – A New Hampshire man charged with murdering a Lynn pizza delivery driver was ordered held without bail Thursday as investigators pointed to road rage as a possible motive.

Brian Brito, 21, of Manchester, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder at his arraignment in Lynn District Court. Brito was already in police custody, charged with an armed robbery and rape in North Andover hours after 24-year-old Sina Zangiband was killed in Lynn.

Police said the murder of Zangiband was "a brazen, senseless act."

Brian Brito
Brian Brito hid his face with a towel as State Police troopers led him to court on March 28, 2017. (WBZ-TV)

Zangiband was shot several times Monday night in his car in front of St. Pius Catholic Elementary on Bowler Street.

Lynn shooting Sina Zangiband
Sina Zangibandwas shot and killed inside this car in Lynn March 27, 2017. (WBZ-TV)

Court documents revealed that he was found with his foot on the brake and his car in reverse.

An off-duty firefighter said he saw a man drive up behind Zangiband's Hyundai, overtake it on the left and force the pizza delivery driver to pull over. Police said it is possible Zangiband was killed during a road rage incident.

Sina Zangiband
Sina Zangiband (Image from Facebook)

Video from a home security system in the area shows the Audi allegedly driven by Brito overtaking Zangiband's Hyundai. A second camera captured the Audi closely following Zangiband's vehicle.

When Brito was eventually caught by police, Massachusetts State Police troopers found the front passenger window was shattered, apparently from the inside out.

Just after 10 p.m. on Monday, Brito also allegedly went into Richdale Variety Store on Chickering Road in North Andover wearing a mask and brandishing a gun.

north andover convenience store rape robbery
The North Andover convenience store where police said Brian Brito sexually assaulted a clerk. (WBZ-TV)

Police say he ordered the clerk to lock the doors, then sexually assaulted her in a back room before emptying the cash register and fleeing.  Brito is set to be arraigned next week on the North Andover charges.

A judge ordered him held without bail following his arraignment Thursday morning.

Brito was allowed to hide his face during court proceedings. His defense attorney said there is potential for issues identifying the shooter, but when asked if police had the "wrong guy," she responded "no comment."

The Essex County District Attorney's Office said it's investigated 11 murders so far this year, well ahead of their average of 14 per year.

An online fundraising page has been established for Zangiband's family.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kendall Buhl reports

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