Trail begins in Fall River Superior Court for local man charged in murder of 20-year-old Lorenzo Gomes

The trial has begun in Fall River Superior Court for a local man charged in connection with the homicide of 20-year-old Lorenzo Gomes.

According to District Attorney Thomas Quinn III, Xavier Luis Rodriguez of New Bedford was charged with Murder and Carrying an Illegal Firearm.  

Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office, New Bedford Police and Homicide Unit prosecutors investigated the homicide, which occurred early July 3rd in the City of New Bedford.

At just before 12:15 a.m., New Bedford Police received a 911 call regarding shots fired in the area of Tallman and North Front streets.

Responding officers were approached by witnesses who reported hearing loud bangs that sounded like gun shots.  Several officers searched the surrounding area and eventually located the victim inside his vehicle on Belleville Avenue.

The victim, later identified as Gomes, appears to have attempted to drive to the hospital before losing consciousness in his vehicle.  EMS rushed him to Saint Luke’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

In connection to the death of Gomes, two other defendants were charged with Accessory to Murder-After the Fact. Wyllie Monteiro of New Bedford was arrested in Dartmouth and Sterling Robinson, also of New Bedford, was arrested in Fall River.