FALL RIVER — A 43-year-old New Bedford man who shot a woman inside a moving vehicle in August 2018 was sentenced to serve a decade in prison last week, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Attim Almeida pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, attempted assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm with three prior violent offenses, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm and malicious damage to a motor vehicle.

On August 6, 2018, at 6:15 a.m. in the area of Purchase Street and Grinnell Street in New Bedford, the defendant fired three rounds into a vehicle. The passenger in the vehicle suffered a gunshot wound to her leg, and the driver sustained injuries to his hands from broken glass. Both were transported to St. Luke’s Hospital and did eventually speak to police, but refused to identify the defendant as the shooter.

Further investigation and the viewing of surveillance video from the area of the shooting led investigators to this defendant.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia and the 10-year state prison sentence was imposed by Judge William Sullivan. Upon the completion of his prison sentence, the defendant will be placed on supervised probation for an additional two years.

“Despite the lack of witness cooperation, I am very pleased that this violent and repeat offender was convicted and held accountable for yet another potentially fatal incident. The defendant is well known to the authorities and has a long history of committing violent crimes. He has an utter disregard for the law,” District Attorney Quinn said. “The defendant will serve a mandatory 10-year sentence and will remain under court supervision. It is both sad and disturbing that this defendant continues to engage in this lawless behavior, even in his mid-40s.”

--Bristol County District Attorney’s Office

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