Man arrested for shooting of New Bedford officer held without bail in Fall River court

A man wanted for shooting a New Bedford Police Detective in the face last summer has been held without bail after being arrested Wednesday afternoon by local, state, and federal authorities after he stepped off an arriving international flight at Logan Airport. 

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, 18-year-old Denzel Gomes was held without bail at his arraignment Thursday in Fall River court after being arrested by Massachusetts State Police and New Bedford Police shortly after his flight from Portugal landed at the airport.  

Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police stated that Gomes was indicted last September on charges of Armed Assault to Murder, Attempted Assault and Battery with a Firearm, Assault and Battery with a Firearm, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon-Causing Serious Bodily Injury and Carrying an Illegal Firearm. 

On July 17, 2023, immediately following the shooting of the undercover NBPD Detective, the New Bedford Police Major Crimes Unit and the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (MSP VFAS) began working to locate and apprehend those responsible for the crime. 

At the time of the shooting, the Detective was conducting surveillance in the North End of New Bedford when shots were fired from a passing vehicle. The Detective was struck in the face but survived. Another person who was in the area suffered a gunshot wound to his foot. 

 In the weeks that followed, NBPD, MSP VFAS, the State Police Detective Unit (MSP SPDU) for Bristol County, and the United States Marshals Service (USMS) relentlessly pursued the three occupants of the vehicle. Two of the three were subsequently arrested and a third, Gomes, the suspected triggerman, was identified. 

Evidence was presented to a grand jury, which returned a seven-count indictment against Gomes.

NBPD, MSP VFAS, MSP SPDU, and USMS began an investigation into Gomes’ whereabouts. Investigators quickly determined that prior to the indictment, Gomes fled the United States. In conjunction with federal law enforcement partners, investigators closely monitored Gomes’ travel outside of the US. 

Wednesday, MSP VFAS was notified by USMS that Gomes had boarded an international flight scheduled to arrive at Logan at 2 PM. 

MSP VFAS Troopers, members of the NBPD Major Crimes Unit, USMS Deputy Marshals, US Customs and Border Protection Agents, and Troopers from MSP Troop F were waiting at Terminal E for the flight’s arrival, and immediately took Gomes into custody as he stepped back onto US soil. 

“I would like to thank the efforts of law enforcement agencies on the federal level who we worked closely with, including US Customs and Border Protection, the US Marshals and the ATF, for their persistence and follow through in helping us locate the defendant. I am pleased he has now been arrested and apprehended for this violent and lawless shooting that seriously injured detective Gilbert and injured another person,” District Attorney Quinn said. 

“I am very pleased to know that the fugitive responsible for injuring one of our detectives during a recent shooting is now in custody.  I’m thankful for the combined efforts of our dedicated law enforcement community in capturing the suspect,” New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira said.  “I would also like to acknowledge the particularly tenacious efforts of Detective Jordan Ferreira.  This incident highlights the importance of unity between agencies and the relentless pursuit of dangerous criminals.”

A dangerousness hearing is scheduled for Feb. 27, according to Quinn.