Fall River man pleads not guilty, held without bail, after fatal city shooting

A Fall River man pled not guilty Monday morning concerning a murder that took place in the city.

32-year-old, Kevin Barton was arraigned on Monday in the Fall River Superior Court on Murder and Firearms charges related to the February 9, 2024, shooting death of Joshua Medeiros in the area of Blackstone and Nashua Streets in the City of Fall River. 

Medeiros died at Saint Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford after being on life support for several days due to being shot in the head.

Fall River Reporter saw at least a half dozen evidence cones in the back of the Stop & Shop shortly after the fatal shooting. Family members say over a dozen rounds were fired.

Barton was arrested in Georgia on June 25, 2024, on a warrant from the murder indictment and was shot by Georgia law enforcement during the incident. He allegedly pulled a gun while fleeing, prompting a Fulton County sheriff’s deputy to shoot him.

The Fall River indictments charged Barton with murder, carrying an illegal gun, carrying a loaded illegal gun, larceny and possession of a large capacity firearm.

According to court records, Barton was held without bail with a pre-trial conference scheduled for May 23rd.

The Commonwealth will be represented by Assistant District Attorney Russell Eonas.