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Brockton Man Sent To State Prison For Fatally Stabbing City Man



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Contact: Beth Stone 508-584-8120

BROCKTON – A Brockton man pleaded guilty and was sent to State Prison for his role in the 2014 stabbing death of a 22 year-old man, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

Adrian Gonsalves (DOB: 02-14-79), of Brockton, pleaded guilty today to one count each of Manslaughter and Intimidation of a Witness. Brockton Superior Court Judge Anthony Campo sentenced Gonsalves to serve 8-12 years in State Prison to be followed by three years of probation from and after.

On July 19, 2014 at approximately 11:50 p.m., Brockton Police responded to a 911 call for a report of a stabbing at the intersection of North Main and Court Streets. Upon arrival, police found 22 year-old David Smith suffering from three separate stab wounds, one to his left chest, one to his left arm and one to his left lower back. Smith was transported to Brockton Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

State Police Detectives along with Brockton Police interviewed eyewitnesses whose information led them to Gonsalves and Tyron Coney (DOB: 12/14/90). The investigation revealed that Gonsalves and Coney had run-ins with Smith in the past and that on July 19, 2014, the pair observed Smith and a group of people congregated in Perkins Park on North Main Street. While at the park, Gonsalves, Coney and Smith became involved in an altercation that turned physical and Gonsalves stabbed Smith.

In May, 2017, Gonsalves was originally convicted by a jury and sentenced. He filed a motion for new trial, citing an issue with a trial juror, and the Appeals Court granted that motion.

Coney, who was also charged in the stabbing, was convicted and sentenced to 8 to 12 years in State Prison in August, 2017.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague and was investigated by State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and Brockton Police.

October 28, 2020