Mother of Massachusetts teen stabbed to death remembers affectionate and loving son

A teen pleaded not guilty to a murder charge for a fatal stabbing in Lynn Tuesday evening, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Lynn Police Chief Chris Reddy announced.

Iram Allen Jr., 15, of Lynn was arraigned as an adult in Lynn District Court on Wednesday. Judge Sarah Joss ordered him held without bail. Allen is due back in court on Sept. 20.

A second teen, who is not being identified because of his age, also was arrested and charged with possession of a dangerous weapon. That teen was released to the custody of their parents and was to be arraigned separately on Wednesday.

A third teen, Daniel Marquez Santeliz, 17, of Lynn, was the victim. He was stabbed at the Alpha Convenience Store, 1 Freeman Square, about 6 p.m. Tuesday. A short time later, Marquez Santeliz was brought to a nearby fire station.

He was transported from there to Salem Hospital, where he subsequently died from his wounds.

Daniel’s mother Karelis remembers her son through a GoFundMe fundraiser.

“I still haven’t been able to recover from the pain of knowing that my young and vibrant son has left this world. It’s very hard to accept this reality, but it’s even harder to accept that another human being took his life. My son Daniel was the only thing that kept me motivated to fight in this country, and he gave me the strength to wake up every day with my best smile despite the adversity and countless difficult health moments I’ve gone through. Daniel was extremely affectionate and loving to everyone who knew him, and he was a true blessing to me. Today, I not only find myself terribly devastated by this loss, but I also don’t have the necessary resources to give my son Daniel a proper burial, who is still in Salem Hospital.”

The case was handled Wednesday by Assistant District Attorney Thomas D’Amato. Allen was represented by attorney Steven Van Dyke of Malden.

The incident remains under investigation by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective Unit and detectives from the Lynn Police Department.