Fall River man sentenced in Superior Court after being found guilty in double murder that also injured another

A Fall River man was sentenced in Fall River Superior Court Thursday after being found guilty in a double murder.

23-year-old Jeremy Holmes was found guilty in November on two counts of Murder along with Carrying a Firearm without a License.

Holmes was sentenced to serve two consecutive sentences of 25 years to life for each count of First-Degree Murder as requested by the Commonwealth. The Defendant received a concurrent State Prison sentence of 4 to 5 years for the Firearms charge.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, the defendant was 18 years old at the time he committed the broad daylight double murders.  As a result of a court decision in January of 2024, defendants who are convicted of First-Degree murder and under the age of 21 at the time the murder is committed must be sentenced with parole eligibility.

Holmes has credit for 1603 days served, according to court records.

Sentencing was scheduled for January 10th but was rescheduled to June 13th at the request of Holmes. Sentencing was then rescheduled to October 9th at the request of Holmes. He was held without bail prior to sentencing.

Fall River Police received 911 calls at just before 4:30 p.m. on May 18, 2021, for a report of shots fired in the vicinity of Griffin Park.

When first responders arrived on scene, they located two victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The two victims, Jovaughn Antonio Mills, 29, of Fall River and Miguel Sanjurjo, 14, also of Fall River, were rushed to Saint Anne’s Hospital and Charlton Memorial Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

The third shooting victim, a 19-year-old man from Fall River, was transported to Saint Anne’s Hospital via a private vehicle. The victim was then transported to Rhode Island Hospital for further treatment and has since recovered.

The third victim invoked his 5th amendment privilege during the court process. 

From the scene, police recovered .45 caliber and 9 mm ballistics evidence.  The defendant was identified through witness statements and surveillance video.  The video showed the defendant walk into Griffin Park with a gun and showed him fire multiple rounds in the direction of the victims.    

According to prosecutors, the weapon found at the scene of the shooting where 13 shots were fired was owned by Holmes.

The defense argued that the shooting was done in self-defense against a rival gang.

“I commend the court for giving the defendant consecutive life sentences for each murder.  The defendant fired multiple rounds in broad daylight into a park crowded with a number of people including women and children.  He killed two individuals and wounded a third.  Just because you are under the age of 21 does not mean you should not be held fully accountable for premeditated murder and the potential for additional deaths or serious injury for the outrageous and lawless conduct of the defendant,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.