Fall River man held without bail as more details released in double homicide

A Fall River man was held without bail Thursday in the murder of two other city men.

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III, Fall River Police were dispatched to the area of 90 Aetna Street at 8:50 PM on Wednesday for a report of shots fired. 

Upon arrival, police located an unresponsive male who was not breathing, laying on the sidewalk between 90 and 104 Aetna Street covered in blood with significant trauma to his face.  Officers on scene attempted to render medical aid. 

Officers then located a second male lying on the ground in the southeast corner of 99 Aetna Street.  Fall River EMS arrived on scene and noted obvious signs of death for both males.

The two men were identified as 20-year-old Pablo Henrique Rocha-Dasilva of Whitman, MA and 19-year-old Eduardo Cardosa DaSilva of Fall River, MA. 

As the decedents were located, Massachusetts State Police Troopers assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office encountered the suspect, 28-year-old Vitor Francisco Gomes of Fall River, MA, approximately one block away from the Crime Scene.  As police approached the suspect, they noted he was covered in blood.  After a short foot pursuit, they found the suspect in possession of a bag that contained a firearm and ammunition. 

Francisco Gomes was taken into custody and has been charged with two counts of Murder, Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition. 

He was arraigned Thursday in the Fall River District Court where he pled not guilty and was held without bail.

According to DA Quinn, the murder scene was one of the worst that he has ever seen. One victim was allegedly shot in his car, dragged onto the street, and beaten in the head with cobblestones. The second man was killed by a pitchfork to the back of the head. There are reports that illegal boxing took place before the murders, but has not been confirmed yet by authorities.

Francisco Gomes has a probable cause hearing scheduled for July 14th.