Tiverton man who stabbed Fall River man 27 times during vicious attack, sentenced to prison

“A 27-year-old Tiverton, RI man who nearly stabbed another man to death in Fall River during a pre-meditated vicious attack, was sentenced last week to serve 16 to 18 years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Chance Costa pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with Armed Assault with Intent to Murder, Aggravated Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Malicious Damage to a Motor Vehicle and Assault and Battery on a Person Over the Age of 60.

During the evening hours of September 26, 2021, the 26-year-old victim was helping a 27-year-old female unload shopping items from her car and bring them up to her apartment. The defendant, who was previously in a relationship with the female, waited behind a car and, while armed with a knife, ran at the victim. The defendant stabbed the victim multiple times in the torso, back, arm, and neck. The defendant then fled, tossing the knife in bushes. Ultimately the knife was recovered.

The victim was able to walk to a grassy median, where he collapsed. The victim was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. The exact number of stab wounds is not known, but it appears to be 23. The victim had multiple surgeries to his stomach and arm. His bicep was torn, and the mobility in his arm is limited to this day. The victim nearly died and lost a lot of weight during his hospitalization. The victim, who was in very good physical shape prior to the attack, now gets winded after minor exercise and is constantly afraid for his safety.

When the defendant was being taken into custody by Fall River Police, he fled and pushed an elderly man to the ground, causing an injury to his head.

At the sentence hearing before Judge Raffi Yessayan, the victim and his mother presented an emotional victim impact statement informing the court of the hell the victim and his family have been through.

But for the sheer will to live by Mr. Andrade, this would not be a charge of armed assault with intent to murder. Instead, it would be a first-degree murder case under the theories of deliberate premeditation and extreme atrocity or cruelty. The defendant planned his attack – he drove to the residence, parked his car, and laid in wait while armed with a knife. The victim was unarmed and was unaware of the defendant’s presence until it was too late.

Assistant District Attorney Patrick Driscoll strongly argued that such a vicious, cruel, and unprovoked attack merited a significant punishment. He argued for an 18 to 20 year state prison term, while the defendant requested a five to year state prison sentence.

“This was a brutal and premeditated attempt to murder the victim, who easily could have died from multiple stab wounds inflicted by the defendant. The court imposed a significant prison sentence, which was appropriate based on the egregious conduct of the defendant and the suffering and injuries sustained by the victim,” District Attorney Quinn said.”