New Bedford Shooter Sentenced to State Prison
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
May 15, 2019
A 23-year-old New Bedford man who shot and seriously injured another New Bedford man in March 2016 was sentenced this week to serve up to eight years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Josiahi Matos pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed assault in a dwelling, carrying an illegal fire and carrying a loaded illegal firearm. He was sentenced by Judge Gregg Pasquale to serve five to eight years in state prison, followed by four years of supervised probation.
On Sunday, March 13, 2016, at approximately 11:23 am, New Bedford Police received several 911 calls regarding gunshots fired, as well as a male shot at 204 Sawyer Street. Uniformed police responded to the scene and upon their arrival, they located the victim lying on the floor within his attic apartment. As they approached the male, they observed him lying face down in a pool of blood. Officers as well as the paramedics on scene determined that the victim, who appeared to have suffered from bullet wounds, needed to be transported to Rhode Island Hospital where he was further tended to as a result of the severity of his injuries.
Police learned through their investigation that the defendant entered the victim’s apartment uninvited, and after a brief verbal conformation, he began firing his gun at the victim, striking him in the leg.
On March 14, 2016, police arrested the defendant, who was hiding in a locked room of the basement at 5 Bonneau Court, which is adjacent to the address where the shooting occurred.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert Digiantomaso.
“This is another example of senseless violence that could have killed the victim and endangered the public on a quiet Sunday morning,” District Attorney Quinn said. “This is lawlessness and the defendant has clearly demonstrated that he is a danger and doesn’t belong on the streets.”
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576–cell