New Bedford Man Sentenced to Prison Following Foot Chase and Gun Recovery

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A New Bedford man was sentenced to up to five years in state prison after pleading guilty to gun charges.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced that Victor Rodrigues Monteiro, 21, pleaded guilty on August 31 in Fall River Superior Court to carrying a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without an FID card.

Rodrigues Monteiro was sentenced to four to five years in state prison followed by two years of supervised probation.

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The 2025 New Bedford Foot Chase and Arrest

The charges date back to November 13, 2025, when New Bedford Police encountered Rodrigues Monteiro after receiving information from a confidential informant. Police said he was “acting suspicious and displaying characteristics of an armed individual,” according to the D.A.’s Office. He ran when officers approached him, but was apprehended after a brief foot chase.

While police were frisking him, Rodrigues Monteiro said, “It’s over there, down the street by the house, I left it there.” Police went back to the area and found a black firearm on the ground near the front left tire of a vehicle parked in front of 507 South Second Street.

Surveillance Video Catches the Suspect

A security camera from that residence caught Rodrigues Monteiro fleeing from police and it captured an audible metallic sound, along with a visible change in light near the tire as the firearm was discarded. It was identified as a Lorcin Model L380 pistol with a defaced serial number. It was loaded with one round in the chamber and four additional .380 rounds in the magazine.

“This defendant has been convicted as a youthful offender for possessing firearms and being involved in a shooting,” D.A. Quinn said. “The images captured on the security camera in this case were very important to obtaining the conviction. The defendant continues to be a danger to the community and does not belong on the street.”