New Bedford Residents 'Frightened' After Park Shooting

NEW BEDFORD — A shooting near New Bedford's Monte Park Playground during a basketball tournament on Saturday has left residents "frightened," according to one city councilor.

City Councilor Brian Gomes, who also heads the city's Public Safety Committee, told WBSM's Barry Richard on Monday that the shooting was "totally absurd."

"There was kids and everything everywhere," he said. "And at five o'clock in the afternoon, we have a criminal element...that disrupted the whole thing."

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"This is not supposed to happen," he added. "We're not supposed to see mothers and kids running."

Police said shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday that officers were investigating the shooting, which left one victim with non-life-threatening injuries.

"Please avoid the area," read a Facebook post from the department shortly after the incident. "Organizers have shut down the basketball tournament."

Police incident logs show that a K-9 unit was active in the area following the shooting.

On Monday, police said that the investigation remains "very active," declining to release further information.

"The chief is doing everything in his power to make sure patrols are in the area," noted Gomes, adding that in the past week three guns were taken off the streets.

But he said he believes that violent crime is not declining.

"Crime is not down in the city, and people are frightened," he said. "It's just totally absurd and it can't go on anymore. It's gotta stop."

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