NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said Monday that a New Bedford gang member was convicted of second degree murder.
Prosecutors said Ivan Fontanez, 26, will be sentenced in Fall River Superior Court next Monday.
Fontanez and Keeland Rose got a ride from Temple Landing in the west end of the city to Rivet Street in the south end on June 5, 2017.
Prosecutors said the two then walked to Roberto Clement Park, where Fontanez shot at a group of people, killing Brad Lourenco.
“The shooting was likely the results of an ongoing feud between rival gangs in New Bedford and was in retaliation to an incident that occurred about a week before the homicide involving the non-fatal shooting of Fontanez’s half-brother,” prosecutors said.
The two then took off and ditched clothing items, which were recovered by investigators and used as DNA evidence.
The murder weapon was also found hidden on the nearby pedestrian foot bridge.
Prosecutors said they got into the back of a pickup truck on Route 18, hoping to flee from the gang chasing them.
The driver ordered them out, and Fontanez and Rose grabbed hand tools from the back of the truck to defend themselves. Police arrested them shortly after.
Rose pled guilty to an accessory to murder charge in 2019 and was sentenced to serve three to six years in state prison.
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