FALL RIVER — A 20-year-old New Bedford man held on charges he shot New Bedford Detective Lavar Gilbert in the face in 2023 is faced with accepting a plea deal or going to trial.
Denzel Gomes, who is being held without bail, is due back in Bristol County Superior Court on April 27 to submit his decision. If he accepts a plea deal — the terms of which have not been made public since he hasn’t agreed to them yet — a change-of-plea hearing from not guilty will be set, followed by sentencing. If he does not accept the deal, a trial date will be set.
Gomes is being held on charges of two counts of armed assault with intent to murder; two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury; assault and battery with a firearm; attempted assault and battery with a firearm; and carrying a firearm without a license.
Offshore wind: Vineyard Wind sues GE to stop ‘wind farm graveyard’ off Nantucket
Gomes faces two counts of armed assault with intent to murder; two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury; assault and battery with a firearm; attempted assault and battery with a firearm; carrying firearm without a license.
What happened in the shooting
Gomes was 18 when he allegedly shot Gilbert in the face on the night of July 17, 2023, at about 8:28 p.m. from a passing car in New Bedford’s south end at Orchard and Rivet streets.
Prosecutors say Gilbert was not the target. At the time of the shooting, the detective was conducting undercover surveillance.
The shots were fired at a crowd on the corner of no less than six or seven people, police said. Just beyond that crowd was Gilbert in an unmarked car.
Gilbert drove himself to the hospital
Gilbert’s window was shattered, and he was struck in the face by a bullet. He remained conscious and was able to drive himself to the hospital where he received emergency medical treatment. Another man was shot in the foot.
Gilbert, a 17-year veteran of the NBPD, is still a member of the department but has not returned to active duty since the incident.
Gomes was arrested in February 2024 at Logan International Airport. Prosecutors said he had flown to Senegal to avoid prosecution. Senegal has no extradition treaty with the United States.
Gomes had boarded a flight out of Portugal to Boston when he was arrested at Logan Airport, police said.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Plea deal being considered in shooting of New Bedford police detective
