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Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced that 28-year-old Jeffrey Souza was convicted of second degree murder and other charges by a jury of his late this afternoon in Fall River Superior Court.
The jury deliberated for about five hours before delivering its verdicts, convicting Mr. Souza of second degree murder, assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.
Superior Court Judge E. Susan Garsh ordered Mr. Souza, of Fall River, held in jail, and set sentencing for November 7 at 3 pm in Fall River Superior Court.
The defendant stood accused of shooting and killing Kyle Brady, 28, of Fall River in Fall Ruver’s Maplewood Park around 1 am on January 1, 2015. Evidence at trial showed that Souza and Brady had a longstanding dispute over a female, and that they were to engage in a fist fight shortly after midnight. Souza, though, brought an illegal firearm to the fight and at some point fatally shot Mr. Brady once in the chest.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Michael Cahillane and Daniel Walsh. The trial lasted about two weeks, before closing argument were heard by the jury this morning.
”This is another senseless killing as the defendant brought an illegal gun to a pre-planned first fight,” said District Attorney Quinn. ”I would like to thank the jury for their swift verdict, which was supported by the evidence. I hope the family finds some satisfaction in the fact that the defendant was held accountable for the killing of their loved one.”
