District Attorney’s Office: Fall River woman found guilty in fatal road rage stabbing

A Fall River woman accused of fatally stabbing a woman in a road rage incident in 2019 has been found guilty.

According to Beth Stone of the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, on Friday afternoon after deliberating two days, a Plymouth County jury found Jacqueline Mendes, 36, guilty of one count each of Manslaughter and Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon.

A Plymouth County grand jury previously indicted Mendes with one count of murder and one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, however the jury last week chose the lesser charge of Manslaughter.

At approximately 3:45 p.m. on June 28th, Brockton Police received multiple 911 calls reporting a stabbing in the vicinity of 276 Belmont Street and at the intersection of Grafton Street. Upon arrival, police and emergency medical personnel located Jennifer Landry of Brockton suffering from a stab wound to the right side of her neck. She was treated on scene and transported to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton before she was transferred by helicopter to Boston Medical Center for treatment. She was later pronounced dead at BMC.

State Police Detectives and Brockton Police developed information that a traffic confrontation ensued between Mendes and Landry prior to the stabbing. Mendes allegedly stabbed Landry with a knife and re-entered her vehicle and fled the scene. Mendes eventually arrived in the lobby of the Brockton Police Department.

According to the Assistant District Attorney, a witness saw the two women wrestling and throwing punches at each other before Mendes returned to her car, saying, “I’ve got something for you, b****.”

Mendes attorney described Landry as the initial aggressor in the fight between the two, stating that the victim exited her vehicle after Mendes honked at her for repeatedly breaking in front of her.

Mendes had pleaded not guilty claiming self-defense and stating Landry had a knife which was found closed at the scene.

Stone stated that sentencing is scheduled for January 4th.