A Massachusetts man accused of shooting and injuring his girlfriend and fatally shooting his stepson early Tuesday morning has been held without bail, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
38-year-old Justelino Resende was located at 229 Grafton Street and took him into custody shortly after the incident.
At approximately 1:55 a.m., Brockton Police received a 911 call for a report of a shooting at 93 Tribou Street. The family’s Brockton home. Upon arrival, officers found 14-year-old Nehemiah Cepeda and his mother suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
The teen was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His mother was taken to Boston Medical Center, where she remained for treatment as of Tuesday morning.
Resende and the female victim were in a long-term on-again, off-again romantic relationship, the prosecutor said in court. They got into a fight early Tuesday morning. At that point, the prosecutor said, Resende pulled a gun.
The prosecutor said Resende shot at his girlfriend’s daughter and missed. The prosecutor said Resende then fired two shots at his girlfriend, critically wounding her. The prosecutor said another gunshot was fired, hitting and killing the girlfriend’s son as he was sleeping.
The Brockton Public Schools community is mourning the loss of Nehemiah Cepeda who was a 9th-grade student at the Brockton Therapeutic Day School.
“Our hearts go out to the student’s family and loved ones as they process this unthinkable loss,” said Brockton Superintendent Mike Thomas.
“The Office of Student Support Services is working directly with the school’s principal and counselors to provide social and emotional support to the student’s classmates” Thomas added.
Resende pleaded not guilty to one count each of Murder and Possession of a Firearm, and two counts of Assault with an Attempt to Murder. He was held without bail.
Resende is next scheduled to appear in court on April 27.
Massachusetts State Police, Brockton Police, and Plymouth County District Attorney’s office are investigating this incident.
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