A fatal shooting outside a bar in Fall River, Massachusetts, has left one man dead and three others facing criminal charges. The incident occurred on Sunday, October 10, 2022, around 1 a.m., when a fight broke out among several patrons of the Riverside Sports Bar and Restaurant on Rodman Street. The victim, Jose Roberto Zelaya, 45, was not involved in the altercation, but tried to intervene and help a bouncer who was being attacked with chairs and bottles. He was shot once in the chest by Anthony Miranda, 36, who allegedly fired the gun while fumbling with it. Zelaya died later at Saint Anne’s Hospital.
The Suspects and the Charges
Anthony Miranda, of New Bedford and Fall River, was arrested on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, in New Bedford, and charged with manslaughter, assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, carrying an illegal firearm and carrying a loaded illegal firearm. He pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, and was held without bail.
According to Herald News, Miranda is a convicted felon who has served time in prison for drug trafficking, assault and battery, and firearm offenses. He was on probation at the time of the shooting.
Two other men, Luis Colon-Delgado, 42, and Jose Pagan, 23, both of Fall River, were also arrested in connection with the fight. Colon-Delgado, who is on federal probation for a drug charge, was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He allegedly started the fight inside the bar and continued it outside, where he attacked Zelaya with a chair. Pagan, who has no criminal record, was charged with assault and battery after the fact to an assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He allegedly fled the scene in a car with Miranda.
Both Colon-Delgado and Pagan pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, and were ordered held on $50,000 and $25,000 cash bail, respectively.
The Victim and the Witnesses
Jose Roberto Zelaya, the victim of the shooting, was a father of four and a construction worker. He was described by his family and friends as a hardworking, generous, and peaceful man who loved music and dancing. He was a regular customer of the Riverside Sports Bar and Restaurant, where he enjoyed socializing with his friends.
According to Genius Celebs, Zelaya was trying to stop Colon-Delgado from hitting the bouncer with a chair, when Miranda shot him in the chest. The bouncer, who was not identified, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. Several other witnesses also gave statements to the police, describing the chaotic and violent scene that unfolded outside the bar.
The Investigation and the Trial
The Fall River Police Department and the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the shooting. They are reviewing surveillance footage, collecting evidence, and interviewing witnesses. They are also seeking to identify and locate other people who were involved in the fight.
The suspects are scheduled to appear in court for pretrial hearings on November 9, 2022. They are facing serious charges that could result in lengthy prison sentences if convicted. The prosecution will have to prove that Miranda acted recklessly and caused Zelaya’s death, and that Colon-Delgado and Pagan aided and abetted him.
The shooting has shocked and saddened the community of Fall River, especially the family and friends of Zelaya, who are mourning his loss and seeking justice. They have set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses and support his children. They have also organized a vigil and a march to honor his memory and demand an end to gun violence.
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