CONTACT: Nathan Lederman 508-584-8120
BROCKTON – A Brockton man has pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with a fatal stabbing in a local park last July, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
Johnny Richmond, 37, was arraigned today in Plymouth County Superior Court on one count each of Murder and Carrying a Dangerous Weapon, as well as two counts of Threats to Kill. Richmond pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail.
On July 20, 2024, at approximately 6:13 p.m., Brockton Police received several 911 calls for a report of a stabbing that had occurred in Finnegan Park located at the intersection of Crescent and Montello Streets. Upon arrival, Brockton Police officers located a male victim — later identified as 39-year-old Edmar Goncalves of Fall River — who was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was pronounced dead of his injuries.
Brockton Police conducted witness interviews on scene and determined the stabbing suspect to be Richmond. He was arrested a short time later in the vicinity of the stabbing. Richmond had a laceration to his hand and was transported to South Shore Hospital for treatment.
Brockton Police contacted Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office. Preliminarily, the investigation determined that Richmond was threatening several people at the park with a knife that evening, and Goncalves approached Richmond to intervene before ultimately being stabbed by the defendant.
Richmond is next scheduled to appear in court on April 10.