Two suspects are now facing charges after a shots-fired event rattled a Southcoast condominium complex in New Bedford. Post-midnight yesterday, the City of New Bedford Police Department reported via social media that the incident began with a threat involving a handgun and culminated in gunfire.
The series of events took a turn on Wednesday, when at about 9:00 p.m., police were first called to the location after threats were reported. Initially, the male suspect could not be found, but a roughly half-hour later, police were called again to a nearby address to investigate a gunshot within an apartment, leading them to then swiftly detain several individuals near the scene of the crime. A black backpack, stashed under a vehicle, was found to include a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm handgun alongside ammunition — the firearm was not registered in the state.
Further probing into the incident allowed law enforcement to identify the primary suspect, 22-year-old Adilson Moreno of New Bedford. Moreno stands accused of assault with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a firearm without a license. "Further investigation identified ADILSON MORENO, 22, of New Bedford, as the suspect involved in the initial threat with a firearm," the police statement detailed. Moreno was arrested along with 31-year-old Ariana Santos of Taunton in connection to the incident.
The police have also appealed to the public for any information that could shed more light on this case. The department encourages anyone with knowledge of the situation to come forward, and ensures that one can safely do so anonymously by calling 508-99-CRIME or submitting a tip via their website.
