Contact: Beth Stone 508-584-8120
BROCKTON – One day after a brazen daytime shooting outside Brockton District Court, two men were back inside the courthouse, being charged for their roles in the incident, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
Today, in Brockton District Court (BDC) Antwon Barrett-Smith, and Neandro Mendes, both 18, were arraigned on one count each of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Discharging a Firearm Within 500 Feet of a Building, Carrying a Firearm Without a License, Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Possession of Ammunition Without an FID card, and Disorderly Conduct. Mendes was additionally charged with one count of Disturbing the Peace. The Commonwealth moved for the men to be held without bail pending the outcome of a dangerousness hearing, scheduled for Friday, July 14.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. yesterday, courthouse personnel observed a fistfight that took place outside BDC moments prior to the shooting. A male party, later identified as Barrett-Smith, was observed brandishing what appeared to be a handgun just before gunshots were fired.
Several people called 911 regarding the shooting, and Brockton Police and Massachusetts State Police responded to the area of Maple Avenue. There, police located a male subject allegedly involved in the shooting, who was wearing clothing matching a description being broadcast by police radio. The male, identified Mendes, was placed under arrest.
A 37 year-old female standing in close proximity to the courthouse altercation suffered a non life-threatening gunshot wound. She was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital.
Massachusetts State Police responded to Good Samaritan Hospital and learned that an additional male suffering from a gunshot wound had been dropped at the hospital by a private party. The male was transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston for treatment.
Following the incident, out of an abundance of caution, a stay-in-place order was issued for employees working in the courthouse, and nearby Brockton City Hall, the public school building, the board of health building, and the War Memorial.
All parties involved with the shooting were known to one another. Two handguns were recovered by detectives. The shooting remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police and Brockton Police.