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“The Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS) has added suspects in three homicides to the Department’s list of Most Wanted Fugitives.
Among the additions to the MSP’s Most Wanted list is LUIS SOTO, 33, wanted for shooting two men, one of them fatally, inside a Dollar Tree store in Brockton in January. Also added were JEROME FORDHAM, suspected of fatally shooting a man during an altercation in Taunton in November, and DAVID LYNCH, 24, who fatally shot a man in Brockton in November.
“Each of these suspects, according to evidence meticulously gathered by State Police and local detectives, committed the ultimate crime of taking the life of another,” Massachusetts State Police Interim Colonel John Mawn Jr. said. “Our Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section is working to track them wherever they try to run or hide, so that we may speak for their victims. We ask anyone who may know where these suspects might be, to share that information with us so we can bring them to justice.”
Descriptions of the suspects and more details about the homicides are below, as well as in the attached Most Wanted posters. Anyone with information about these suspects or their whereabouts is urged to contact the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section at 1-800-KAPTURE (1-800-527-8873).
Massachusetts State Police photo.
LUIS A. SOTO
On Jan. 31, 2023, Brockton Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Dollar Tree store on North Montello Street. Upon arriving at the scene, Officers discovered two gunshot victims. State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and Brockton Police Detectives identified LUIS A. SOTO, then 32 and a former employee of the store, as the suspected shooter. Evidence suggests SOTO entered the store armed with a handgun and fired 16 shots while inside, striking two men.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital. One of them, Dongbin Pyon, 38, of East Boston, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, died from his injuries. The second man’s injuries were non-life threatening.
Investigators applied for and obtained a Brockton District Court arrest warrant charging SOTO with murder and related offenses. SOTO also is the subject of an unrelated arrest warrant issued out of Salem District Court for Violating an Abuse Prevention Order.
SOTO is 5’10”, approximately 190 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. He has numerous tattoos on his chest, neck, and both arms. SOTO, now 33, should be considered armed and dangerous.
Massachusetts State Police photo.
JEROME K. FORDHAM
On Nov. 6, 2022, Taunton Police received a 911 call reporting that a man was on the ground at the corner of Myrtle and Mason Streets bleeding profusely. Arriving first responders located the victim suffering from a single gunshot wound to the neck. The victim, Ross Copeland, 38, of Raynham, was transported to Morton Hospital; he did not survive his injuries.
The ensuing investigation by State Police Detectives assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and Taunton Police Detectives determined that JEROME FORDHAM, then 35, and Mr. Copeland were traveling in a vehicle together when a physical altercation occurred. The altercation led to the victim being fatally shot.
The investigation identified FORDHAM as the suspected shooter. Investigators applied for and obtained an arrest warrant from Taunton District Court charging FORDHAM with murder and related offenses.
FORDHAM is 5’9”, approximately 190 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. He has multiple tattoos: the word “MOM” on his upper left arm, the letters “g-MO” and the name “Regina” on his lower left arm, and the word “paxville” on his right arm (see supplemental poster attached to this release). He has close ties to parts of Rhode Island and South Carolina. He has also gone by his full name, JEROME KENNEDY FORDHAM. Now 36, FORDHAM should be considered armed and dangerous.
Massachusetts State Police photo.
DAVID K. LYNCH
On Nov. 2, 2022, Brockton Police responding to a report of shots fired on West Park Street found 26-year-old John Abreu Junior DePina suffering from gunshot wounds; the man subsequently died from his injuries.
The ensuing investigation conducted by State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and Brockton Police Detectives determined that the victim approached a vehicle occupied by DAVID LYNCH, 24. A dispute occurred, and LYNCH fatally shot the man and then fled the scene with the firearm.
Investigators applied for and obtained a warrant from Brockton District Court charging LYNCH with murder and related offenses. LYNCH also is wanted on five additional warrants for various firearms and narcotics charges issued out of Plymouth and Norfolk Superior Courts and Stoughton District Court.
LYNCH, who has also gone by DAVID KROSS LYNCH, is 6’1”, approximately 140 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. Besides Brockton, LYNCH has past ties to Abington, Canton, and Weymouth. He should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information about any of the three wanted individual’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section at 1-800-KAPTURE (1-800-527-8873).
