Fall River man previously charged in robbery, charged in murder of convenience store owner

A 37-year-old Fall River man is being charged today with murder and other crimes related to the October 18th shooting death of 54-year-old Lal Kishor Mahaseth, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III and Fall River Police Chief Jeffrey Cardoza announced.

A criminal complaint charging Nelson F. Coelho with murder, attempted armed and masked robbery, and carrying an illegal firearm is being filed in Fall River District Court this morning.

The defendant, who is already in custody after being arrested on October 26th in connection to a separate Fall River armed robbery, is in Fall River District Court today for a pre-scheduled dangerousness hearing connected to that case. However, due to the filing of the new murder charge, that hearing will not go forward. If a defense attorney qualified to handle murder cases is available, the defendant will be arraigned today on the new charges in Fall River District Court.

The defendant is already facing charges of armed and masked robbery, two counts of breaking and entering for a misdemeanor and two counts of trespassing in connection to an October 17 robbery at the 7 Days Food Mart, which is located just blocks away from where the October 18th homicide occurred.

Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office, Fall River Police and Homicide Unit prosecutors continue to actively investigate the homicide.

On October 18 at 10:33 pm, Fall River Police were called to the Stop N Save convenience store at 201 Rock Street in regards to a male victim inside suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The 911 caller had entered the store at around 10:30 pm to purchase food and found the owner/clerk of the store on the floor behind the counter with blood on his chest.

When first responders arrived on scene, they transported the victim, later identified as Mahaseth, to Charlton Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 11:14 p.m.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Patrick Driscoll.