CONTACT: Beth Stone 508-584-8120
BROCKTON – A man and woman have been arraigned on charges in connection with the murder of a man in a Brockton apartment, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
At approximately 3:23 p.m. on Friday, November 22, Brockton Police received a 911 call from someone at 125 Pleasant Street reporting that there was a male victim on the floor and there was blood. Brockton Police and Fire Departments responded with Brewster Ambulance. The male victim was found unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds, and he was determined deceased on scene by paramedics. He was identified as Frantzy Jeanty, 54.
Brockton Police contacted the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, and an investigation commenced. A review of surveillance video obtained from parking lot cameras near to the apartment, showed a white sedan parked, and a male and female exiting the motor vehicle wearing dark clothing and jackets, and face coverings. Through the course of the investigation, it was later determined that the male shooting suspect was identified as Rivaldo Jean, 23, and the female was 21-year-old Imani Cort. The white Audi sedan the pair were traveling in was registered to Cort’s mother.
Surveillance video shows Jean allegedly climb the fire escape and enter the building through a 2nd floor apartment window. Jean is seen on video surveillance inside the apartment going down to the first floor and prop the rear door to let Cort into the building.
Once inside the building, surveillance video shows Jean and Cort got to Apartment 6A, the apartment where Jeanty resided. Cort is seen on video knocking at the door, asking for the victim, while Jean stands to the side of the door. The victim opens the door, Cort steps out of the way, and Jean enters the apartment. Shortly thereafter several gunshots are heard. Jean is heard on video surveillance to go downstairs and wait. Jean goes back into apt more shots are heard in leaving with a suitcase from the apartment which investigators believe contains a small safe with thousands of dollars in cash. The pair fled the scene in the white Audi sedan.
On Saturday, MSP were investigating a Middleboro address identified with the registration of the white Audi sedan. Cort was present at that address and MSP requested and Cort to go to the Middleboro State Police barracks. As a result of evidence gathered over the course of the investigation, Cort was taken into custody and held over the weekend on $1,000,000 bail.
Massachusetts State Police sought and received an arrest warrant for Jean, and he was taken into custody this morning in Dorchester.
Today, at his arraignment in Brockton District Court, Jean pleaded not guilty to one count each of Murder, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Discharging a Firearm Within 500 Feet of a Dwelling, Armed Home Invasion, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, Breaking and Entering During the Daytime with Intent to Commit a Felony, and Larceny Over $1,200.
Imani Cort pleaded not guilty to one count each of Murder, Armed Home Invasion, Breaking and Entering During the Daytime with Intent to Commit a Felony, and Larceny Over $1,200.
Both were held without bail and are next scheduled to appear in court on December 23.