BROCKTON, MASS. (WHDH) - The man accused of shooting and killing a teenager in Brockton appeared in court Tuesday afternoon, hours after officials said the man allegedly opened fire inside a home on Tribou Street.
Authorities said Justelino Resende, 38, stayed at the home with his longtime on-again/off-again girlfriend, Felicia Williams, and her kids.
A prosecutor said Resende pulled a gun after the couple got into a fight, first shooting at Williams’ daughter and missing. The prosecutor, Sharon Thibeault, said Resende then went after Williams.
Thibeault said Resende pushed his way into a room. She said Williams ran to a closet to hide and was yelling at Resende.
Thibeault said Resende stated he fired the gun to scare Williams and did not know her 14-year-old son was in the closet.
While Williams was critically hurt, she did survive. Her son died of his injuries.
The tearful family came to court Tuesday but said nothing.
Resende’s attorney said he helped raise the 14-year-old boy and considered him a son.
“There was no intent on Mr. Resende to harm that child,” Defense Attorney Daniel Pond said. “This is a man in crisis right now as he was last night.”
The prosecutor said Resende drove a white Honda Civic from the scene before he was found a short time later and arrested.
Resende, who has already served time behind bars for gun charges, tossed the gun in this incident, according to investigators. Authorities searched for the gun and were able to recover it.
“They were in a terrible situation and my heart goes out to the family — the poor young boy, his mom, and the overall trauma that everybody is going to deal with now here in the city of Brockton,” Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said Tuesday. “It’s a terrible day.”
“We need to make sure we do our job and get justice for him and for his family,” Cruz said.
The Brockton Public Schools said that the 14-year-old who was killed was a ninth grader at the Brockton Therapeutic Day School.
School officials said they had councilors on hand to help classmates with their grief.
“Our hearts go out to the student’s family and loved ones as they process this unthinkable loss,” the district said in a statement.
Williams was at Boston Medical Center in critical condition, where she had already undergone several surgeries as of Tuesday afternoon.
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