Raymond Andrade

In the early weeks of 2004, the historic seaport city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was rocked by a sudden act of violence that left a man dead and a community searching for answers. The life of Raymond P. Andrade was cut short by gunfire on a cold January night, a crime that remains a painful open wound for his loved ones and a lingering challenge for law enforcement.

The night of Sunday, January 25, 2004, was shattered by the sound of gunshots in the Griffin Court area of New Bedford. Multiple residents called the New Bedford Police Department to report the gunfire. When officers arrived at the intersection of Acushnet Avenue and Griffin Court, they discovered a grim scene. Raymond Andrade, a male victim, was found lying in the street, suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response from emergency services, his injuries were fatal.

The investigation into Raymond's death was launched immediately by the New Bedford Police Department, with assistance from Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office. Investigators processed the scene for evidence and canvassed the neighborhood, speaking with potential witnesses who heard the shots ring out. However, the specific circumstances leading up to the shooting and the identity of the person or persons responsible have remained elusive. Publicly, authorities have released few details about the case over the years, leaving a void of information about potential motives or suspects.

The case is one of several unsolved homicides from that era in New Bedford, a period that saw a troubling number of violent deaths. The Bristol County District Attorney's Office maintains a public list of unsolved cases in the hopes that new information will emerge, and Raymond Andrade's name has remained on that list for two decades. His death is categorized as an active and open cold case, awaiting the forensic breakthrough or the crucial witness testimony that could finally provide a path to justice.

In the years since his death, there has been little public movement on the case. The trail of news reports grows cold, and official updates are scarce. The lack of resolution leaves many unanswered questions about what happened to Raymond that night. Who targeted him and why remains a mystery locked in the silence of the past.

As of early 2024, the murder of Raymond Andrade is still officially unsolved. The investigation remains in the hands of the Bristol County District Attorney's Unsolved Case Unit, which periodically reviews cold cases for new leads or opportunities to apply modern forensic technology. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. The Bristol County District Attorney's Office asks anyone with knowledge of the shooting to contact them.