As the New Bedford community grapples with recent bursts of violence, police have announced that 21-year-old Anthony Jalo, already implicated in a murder case, has now been charged with involvement in an armed carjacking earlier this month. Authorities responded to an incident on August 14 at the Boa Vista Tower parking lot; two individuals were accosted at gunpoint and forced to relinquish their car, personal effects in tow, to two masked assailants.
Through investigative work, Det. Timothy Soares pinpointed Jalo, who was previously arrested for the murder of Aaron Britto on August 4, as a key suspect in the carjacking, following the discovery of incriminating evidence, while Jalo's capture for this grave homicide was still fresh, evidence surfaced tying him to the August 14 carjacking ordeal. He now faces the compounded weight of murder and armed carjacking charges. The second suspect in the carjacking remains unidentified, with continued efforts by police to bring this individual to justice.
According to a Facebook post by the New Bedford Police Department, Chief Paul Oliveira expressed relief that the victims of the carjacking were unharmed, acknowledging Jalo's "propensity for violence" as evident from his prior offense. "I’m delighted that we could bring them some comfort in knowing that an arrest has been made. We will not relent until JALO’s partner in this crime is sitting in a cell beside him," Oliveira stated, expressing a steadfast commitment to public safety.
Currently, Jalo is being held without bail at the Bristol County Sheriff's Office, ensuring he remains incapacitated from committing further crimes while the investigation unfolds despite pending legal proceedings, the search for his accomplice continues, a pursuit defined by the authorities' resolution to ensure all involved parties face their consequences. The police urge anyone with information to come forward, offering a confidential tip line at 508-99-CRIME or through their website.
