New Bedford Police Chief: Recovering Assault Weapon a ‘Top Priority’

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — The assault rifle used in the recent incident of shots fired at the Blue Meadows housing complex in New Bedford is still on the street, but Police Chief Paul Oliveira said recovering the weapon is a “top priority.”

Oliveira joined WBSM’s SouthCoast Now with host Chris McCarthy today, covering a variety of topics over the course of the hour.

McCarthy asked Oliveira about the September 24 incident, in which an “AR-15-style weapon” was used in connection with the shots fired that night, and two people were injured as a result.

McCarthy asked what Oliveira thought of a rifle categorized as an assault weapon under Massachusetts law being used in New Bedford.

“That’s concerning,” Oliveira said. “First and foremost, I worry about my officers and worry about public safety.”

McCarthy confirmed with sources following the incident that an AR-15-style rifle was used in the shooting, with more than 30 rounds fired. McCarthy’s sources told him it was the first time a 5.56mm round has been found at the scene of a shooting in the city.

Oliveira said Tuesday that the department has “put a lot of effort” into recovering the firearm.

“We have made one arrest, but that investigation is not over,” he said.

The investigation into the incident led to police securing a search warrant for Tyrell Pratt, 20, of New Bedford. On October 1 at around 4:30 p.m., detectives witnessed Pratt in the area of the Cottage Street-Durfee Street intersection. When they approached him, Pratt allegedly reached into his waistband and attempted to flee the scene.

Police said Pratt was seen with a firearm in his hand as he ran towards Austin Street, but that he tossed the gun over a nearby fence before being taken into custody.

READ MORE: New Bedford Blue Meadows Shots Fired Incident Reportedly Involves Assault Rifle

According to police, the gun he allegedly discarded was a Glock 30 with a magazine containing nine .45-caliber cartridges, and that the gun had a defaced serial number. Pratt was also found in possession of a Percocet tablet.

Pratt now faces a number of serious charges for both the original shooting incident as well as those stemming from arrest, including assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm with a defaced serial number among others. He was already on probation at the time of his arrest.

However, the AR-15-style weapon has not yet been recovered.

“That investigation is not done, let me be clear on that,” Oliveira said. “That is the top priority, to get that firearm off the street. Well, to get all (illegal) firearms, but we are realistic here. When we hear there is an assault weapon out there, we have to get that off the street.”