New Bedford Shooter Sentenced to Consecutive Jail Terms
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
June 21, 2019
A 23-year-old New Bedford man who fired upon a moving vehicle in broad daylight last May was sentenced to consecutive jail terms in Fall River Superior Court yesterday afternoon, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Bruno Lopes was convicted by a jury of his peers after a five day trial last month on charges of carrying an illegal firearm and attempted assault and battery by discharge of a firearm. The defendant was formally sentenced by Judge Gregg Pasquale to serve three-and-a-half years in the house of corrections Thursday afternoon. The defendant was sentenced to serve the maximum two-and-a-half year jail sentence for the carrying of an illegal firearm charge. He was then sentenced to a second two-and-a-half year jail sentence, with one year to serve and the balance suspended for three years, on the attempted assault and battery by discharge of a firearm charge.
On May 14, 2018, the defendant was observed on surveillance video at Temple Landing in New Bedford firing a handgun at a vehicle being driven by an alleged rival gang member at around 1:00 in the afternoon. The high quality surveillance video clearly shows the defendant’s face and also shows him raising a firearm and smoke emanating from the gun as he squeezed the trigger. No one was injured during the incident.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia, who argued for a harsher three to five year state prison sentence.
“I am very pleased that the jury held the defendant accountable for this brazen act of violence committed in broad daylight. This conduct undermines the safety of the community and people’s sense of security in city neighborhoods. I would have preferred a longer sentence based on the defendant firing at a moving vehicle but at least he is off the street for more than three years,” District Attorney Quinn said. “This case, once again, highlights the importance of surveillance video in solving and prosecuting violent crimes. Without the video, the defendant would not have been prosecuted. The defendant is not a U.S. citizen and will be subject to deportation proceedings.”
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576–cell