Fall River Man Sentenced After Accidentally Shooting Teen in Car

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A Fall River man has been sentenced to prison for accidentally shooting an 18-year-old girl in a car they were both riding in last year.

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, Treshon Pugh, 19, was sentenced on July 21 in Fall River Superior Court to serve 18 months in the Bristol County House of Correction, followed by two years of supervised probation, for the shooting.

Pugh was convicted of assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, unlawful carrying of a firearm, unlicensed possession of a loaded firearm, and wanton destruction of property.

Teen Shot While Riding in Car

The incident dates back to June 16, 2024, when Fall River Police responded to St. Anne’s Hospital for a report of an 18-year-old girl being treated for a gunshot wound to her back.

According to Quinn, the victim said she had been riding in the front passenger seat of a vehicle driven by her sister, with Pugh sitting directly behind her. She said she heard a loud shot, smelled smoke, and yelled that she had been hit.

Pugh then threw a firearm out of the vehicle window. He did not possess a license to carry.

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Bullet Recovered Weeks Later

Quinn said that although police did not locate the firearm, the .38-caliber bullet dislodged from the victim’s back after several weeks and was removed by doctors. Massachusetts State Police then identified it as the type of bullet that would be shot from a revolver.

He said the victim is able to walk, but will suffer long-term back issues as a result of her injuries. The victim and her sister both said they believed the shooting was accidental.

D.A. Quinn on Illegal Gun Possession

“This case once again highlights the danger associated with the possession of illegal firearms," Quinn said. "Despite the shooting being accidental, nothing good comes from individuals roaming the city with illegal guns."