New Bedford Police Investigating North End Shooting

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — New Bedford Police are investigating an incident in which multiple shots were fired in the city’s North End Wednesday night, about a block away from Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School.

Police Respond to Dutton Street Gunfire

“Last night around 10 p.m., police responded to a call for shots fired on Dutton Street near the Ashley Boulevard intersection,” New Bedford Police told WBSM in an email. “There was damage discovered to a building and a vehicle. There were no injuries reported. The investigation is ongoing at this time.”

Police did not provide any further information. In an email to WBSM’s Barry Richard, Assistant Deputy Chief Scott Carola said releasing any further information “could potentially jeopardize the investigation.”

Councilor Gomes: Gun Violence "Shouldn't Be Tolerated"

City Councilor at Large Brian Gomes, who chairs the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, appeared on Richard’s program Thursday afternoon and mentioned that “27 shots” were possibly fired and that it “jeopardizes the quality of life in any neighborhood across the city” and “shouldn’t be tolerated.”

A police spokesperson did not reply to an email from WBSM seeking confirmation of the number of shell casings recovered at the scene.

Gomes said he was not told specifics of who was behind the shooting, but he did say that Police Chief Jason Thody told him there was “no immediate threat to the people of that neighborhood.”

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Councilor Choquette: Shooting "Not Random"

Ward 1 Councilor Leo Choquette, in whose ward the incident occurred, told WBSM he was told it was “not random."

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“I’m happy that no one was hurt, I’m happy it wasn’t just a drive-by shooting. Those are things we don’t want to see happen anywhere in the city,” Choquette said. “I am confident the police are going to figure out what happened here and those involved will face justice.”

Gomes said the presence of cameras in the neighborhood will assist police with the investigation.

“Detectives are working diligently to get a resolution,” he said.

We will update this story if more information becomes available.

This story has been updated from a previous version that had indicated the shooting was a domestic issue.