Drug deal double shooting leads to State Prison sentence in Fall River Superior Court

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 28-year-old man pled guilty and was sentenced in the Fall River Superior Court before the Honorable Raffi Yessayan.

Lyrik Vernosky of New Bedford will serve a State Prison sentence of 4 1/2 years for two counts of Assault and Battery by Discharge of a Firearm and Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm with one prior violent crime or serious drug offense.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia.

According to the DA, on February 6, 2021, New Bedford Police responded to 78 Tallman Street for a report of shots fired.  Upon arrival they located two victims in the 4th floor apartment.  The victims were identified as Jesus Torres and Jose Ramos.  Torres sustained a gunshot wound to his lower back area and Ramos sustained a gunshot wound to his arm, which also penetrated his lower back.  Both victims were transported for medical treatment.  Officers on scene observed the apartment door to have significant damage with several bullet holes. Ramos identified Vernosky as the shooter and indicated that he knocked on his door and inquired if Ramos had fired shots the previous night.  When Ramos replied that he did not fire shots the night before, Vernosky pulled the apartment door closed and started shooting through the door.  Ramos identified a photograph of Vernosky and indicated to police the shooting was over “turf” relating to drug dealing.  A neighbor also stated a male was present on the night of the shooting, engaged in an argument with the two victims and then shot through the apartment door striking the two victims. 

While this case was pending, victim Jesus Torres was killed in a separate incident unrelated to this defendant.  Victim, Jose Ramos, and the neighbor witness were not cooperative with the trial process.

“I am pleased that the defendant was held accountable for this senseless act of violence which resulted in two people being shot.  Unfortunately, the witnesses were not cooperative and one of the victims was murdered while the case was pending.  This case highlights the difficulties prosecutors face in these types of cases.  It appears the shooting was connected to drug dealing,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.