Fall River Career Criminal Convicted on Gun Charges

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A man previously described as a “violent gang member” and determined to be a Level III Armed Career Criminal has been convicted on new firearms charges.

According to Fall River Police, Mahamadou Kante III, 30, was found guilty on November 15 on charges of assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, and carrying a loaded firearm.

Police said sentencing will follow at a later date.

Kante also faces an additional charge of carrying a firearm without a license (subsequent offense) in a separate trial that will take place today.

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The charges stem from a shooting that occurred at about 6:15 p.m. on September 18, 2023 in the 100-block Choate Street in Fall River. The 42-year-old male victim contacted police, stating he had been shot and was on his way to a local hospital. The shooter was later identified as Kante, and he was taken into custody following a brief foot pursuit in Newport, Rhode Island.

Kante was previously convicted in 2018 on illegal firearms charges and was sentenced to serve four to five years in state prison. At that time, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office described Kante as a “violent gang member” who was convicted of being a Level III Armed Career Criminal.