In Fall River court, 62-year-old New Bedford man sentenced after pleading guilty to murdering son-in-law in front of victim’s 3 children, wife

In Fall River Superior Court, a New Bedford man pled guilty Monday to murdering his son-in-law in front of his grandkids and the victim’s wife.

62-year-old Alphanso Richards of New Bedford, who was scheduled to stand trial yesterday, was sentenced to 19 ½ years to life in State Prison after pleading guilty to second degree murder.  The defendant also received an eight-to-ten-year state prison sentence concurrent for an attempted assault and battery with a firearm of his daughter, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

On August 9, 2021, the victim, 23-year-old Naurik Michel-Brown, along with his wife, Tiamara Michel-Brown, and three children, drove to Car Tunes on Ashley Boulevard in New Bedford to check on a vehicle.  The victim, while outside, was approached by the defendant.  The victim’s wife noticed her father approach her husband with his arm extended.  She then heard gunshots and saw her husband, fall to the ground. Tiamara Michel-Brown then fled to a nearby gas station to contact 911 when she heard additional gunshots fired in her direction. After the shootings, the defendant fled the State of Massachusetts.  On October 10, 2021, Alphanso Richards was located by Virginia State Troopers traveling south on Route 95 in Virginia.  The defendant’s vehicle was searched, and troopers located the defendant’s registered loaded firearm under the driver’s seat.  That firearm was determined to be the murder weapon.  The murder and shooting occurred during the day in broad daylight and was caught on surveillance video. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Patrick Driscoll and Catherine Sauter.

“This is another senseless act of violence committed in broad daylight with total disregard for the safety of the victims and the public that have left three children without a father and impacted the family forever”, District Attorney Quinn said.