A New Bedford man found dead by the side of the road in Dartmouth at dawn on Tuesday died of gunshot wounds, according to the results of a preliminary autopsy by the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Second Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sowa of the Bristol County District Attorney's Office today announced the preliminary autopsy results and said no further information would be released at this time.

At around 5 a.m. on July 14 the body of Jose Cortez Cornejo of New Bedford was found in the area of 180 Horseneck Road in Dartmouth. Police were notified by a passing motorist of a man collapsed by the side of the road. When police and paramedics arrived on the scene, they located the man's body and determined him to be deceased.

Scanner audio from New Bedford police Tuesday night indicated that a vehicle subject to a BOLO in the homicide investigation had been found somewhere in New Bedford and removed by a wrecker. However, authorities this week declined to provide confirmation of that detail.

Dartmouth Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the DA's office and Homicide Unit prosecutors continue to actively investigate the shooting death, the Bristol County District Attorney's Office said.

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