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A 26-year-old New Bedford gang member with a history of gun related offenses was convicted by a jury of his peers this week of brazenly firing at least seven shots at a vehicle driving along Court Street in May of 2022, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
After a three-day trial, a Fall River Superior Court jury convicted Rayshond Lewis of Attempted Assault and Battery by Means of a Firearm, Carrying an Illegal Firearm-third offense, carrying a loaded illegal firearm and larceny.
The defendant was sentenced today to serve eight to 11 years in state prison. The state prison sentence will not begin until he completes a five to 10 year state prison term he was sentenced to earlier this month for violating the terms of his probation connected to a violent 2017 home invasion.
On May 3, 2022, the defendant was a passenger in a vehicle that travelled to the Ash Street Jail. The other occupants got out of the car to check on a defendant they believe was being held at the jail. While this was occurring, the defendant hopped out of the passenger’s seat and fired at least seven shots at another motor vehicle that was driving by at the time. No one was struck or injured during the incident, but bullets did strike a nearby house, front porch and parked vehicle.
The larceny conviction was connected to an incident about a week after the shooting where the defendant stole his ex-girlfriend’s cell phone.
The trial was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia and Shawn Guilderson, and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Claudine Cloutier.
“I am extremely pleased that the jury held the defendant accountable for this lawless act of violence which could have killed or injured people in the area. The defendant is a very dangerous individual who has previously been convicted of two prior firearm offenses. In addition, at the time of these offenses, he was on probation for a violent home invasion in which he strangled the victim,” District Attorney Quinn said. “The court appropriately sentenced him to consecutive prison terms for the firearm charges. The two sentences amount to more than 20 years in prison. In addition, the defendant is awaiting trial for allegedly stabbing two inmates while he was held at the house of correction. The citizens of New Bedford will be much safer now that the defendant will be off the street for a long time.”
