FALL RIVER, MASS. (WHDH) - The man accused of shooting and killing a woman at a car wash in Fall River on Monday pleaded not guilty Tuesday as he made appearances in two courtrooms in two states.
Officials with the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said officers responded to the reported shooting at the Globe Car Wash on Broadway in Fall River around 12:30 p.m. Monday. On scene, officials said officers found Jessenia Simmons, 45, of New Bedford, dead in one of the car wash bays.
Angelo Leo, 33, initially fled the scene of the shooting but turned himself in to police in Tiverton, Rhode Island about a half-hour later, according to the DA’s office.
Leo was arraigned on separate charges in courts in Fall River and Tiverton on Tuesday. First appearing in Tiverton, Leo agreed to return to Massachusetts to face a murder charge.
During proceedings, prosecutors said Leo shot and stabbed Simmons in what prosecutor Patrick Bomberg said was “One of the most brutal things that has been captured on video in this city.”
Simmons, who had been Leo’s girlfriend, had recently taken out a restraining order against Leo, according to the prosecution.
Leo, prosecutors continued, had multiple restraining orders dating back years.
Prosecutors said Leo walked into the Tiverton police station lobby to turn himself in on Monday while wearing a blood-soaked t-shirt. There, prosecutors said Leo allegedly told a dispatcher he had just killed his girlfriend.
Leo’s attorney, Neil Madden, on Tuesday said he had not seen all the video evidence of the murder and his client’s alleged confession.
“I haven’t seen the evidence,” Madden said when asked if his client shot and stabbed Simmons. “I can’t tell you. And we didn’t get into it that deeply.”
Leo’s family left court without comment.
“The details were very brutal as outlined by the prosecutor,” said Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn. “There’s no doubt about it.”
Leo was held without bail and is due back in court next month.
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