Two plead not guilty, held without bail in fatal Brockton restaurant shooting

BROCKTON – Two men have been arraigned on murder and gun charges for the brazen shooting of a man inside a Brockton restaurant, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz has announced.

Today, in Brockton District Court, 18-year-old Jamal Bazile of Brockton pleaded not guilty in the shooting death of 22-year-old Joe Araujo. Bazile pleaded not guilty to one count each of Murder, Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Ammunition, and Discharge of a Firearm. 22-year-old Nathan Veiga pleaded not guilty to one count each of Murder and Accessory Before the Fact. The Commonwealth requested that Bazile and Veiga be held without bail, and Judge Michael Vitali ordered the men held.

On Friday, at just before 7:30 p.m., Brockton Police were dispatched to the Hibachi Sushi Supreme Buffet at 718 Crescent Street for reports of a shooting inside the restaurant. Araujo was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital with a gunshot wound to his abdomen and leg and was pronounced dead of his injuries.

Brockton Police contacted the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office to begin the investigation. Detectives worked throughout the weekend to develop information on the case. Police spoke with witnesses, and collected surveillance footage, including video of the shooting captured on restaurant cameras.

A man wearing a distinct jacket and sneakers, later identified as Bazile, was captured on restaurant video dropping a to-go box and pulling out a firearm, shooting the victim three times, striking him twice.

As a result of the evidence collected, police developed probable cause and obtained an arrest warrant for both men.

Police executed a search warrant at Veiga’s home where they located the distinct jacket that Bazile had been wearing during the shooting. Veiga was taken into Brockton Police custody.

Bazile was located at a home in Hyannis last evening and taken into custody after becoming combative and assaulting police officers. He was found with a 9 mm Smith and Wesson firearm, loaded with four rounds of ammunition.

The pair are due back in court on February 13 for a probable cause hearing.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague is handling the prosecution, which was investigated by Massachusetts State Police and Brockton Police.