Fall River man on probation for role in city shooting sentenced to prison for bringing gun to trampoline park

A 32-year-old Fall River man arrested last month while carrying an illegal firearm inside the Funz Trampoline Park in New Bedford was sentenced yesterday in Fall River Superior Court to state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Chantra Say pled guilty in Fall River Superior Court on Tuesday to indictments charging him with Carrying an Illegal Firearm-Subsequent Offense with Two Priors, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition with Two Priors, and Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device. He was sentenced to serve up to 15 years.

On March 4th New Bedford Police officers dispatched to the trampoline park for a report made by a juvenile caller of a male wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, black ski mask, and blue jeans who had a gun in his pocket. Officers entered the establishment and observed the defendant matching that description. When officers approached Say, he turned to a second male, and pulled an object wrapped in a plastic bag from his waistband area. He attempted to hand the object to the second male who refused. Officers recognized the item in the bag was shaped like a firearm. The officer grabbed the male’s shoulders to detain him when Say tossed the bag in the garbage can. The firearm was recovered from the trash bin and was confirmed to be a Jimenez 9mm pistol, loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition in a 13-round magazine. Say initially provided a false name, but officers were ultimately able to confirm his identity with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit.

Say was on probation out of Bristol Superior court for assault with intent to commit murder and possession of a firearm. These convictions stem from his involvement in a Fall River shooting that took place during the summer of 2010.

The case, which went from arrest to indictment to conviction in just one month, was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia.

“Despite being on probation for a prior shooting, the defendant was walking around in a park for children with a loaded gun. He has a history of convictions for violent offenses and clearly continues to be a significant danger to the community. I’m pleased this case was resolved very quickly and that the defendant will be off the street for up to fifteen years,” District Attorney Quinn said.