On the evening of March 13, 2023, the city of New Bedford was marked by its first homicide of the year. Derek Pires, a 29-year-old male from Fall River, was fatally shot while sitting in his car. The incident occurred at the intersection of Dartmouth and Dunbar streets, where the stillness of the night was broken by the sound of gunfire. New Bedford police were alerted to the shooting at approximately 10:52 p.m.
by a ShotSpotter notification.
Upon their arrival at the scene, officers discovered Pires alone in the driver's seat of a black Dodge Charger parked on Dunbar Street, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was immediately transported to St. Luke's Hospital for medical attention. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Derek Pires succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 1:30 a.m. the following morning, March 14, 2023. The investigation into his death was promptly initiated by the New Bedford Police, State Police detectives, and prosecutors from the Bristol County District Attorney's homicide unit.
For several months, the case remained unsolved, casting a shadow over the community. However, a significant breakthrough occurred in July 2023. The Bristol County District Attorney's Office announced that a grand jury had indicted 28-year-old Gianni Carter-Joyner for the murder of Derek Pires. Carter-Joyner, who had connections to both New Bedford and Fall River, was already in custody on unrelated charges pertaining to illegal firearms and drug distribution at the time of the indictment.
The indictment brought forth a series of serious charges against Carter-Joyner, including murder, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, unlawful transportation of a firearm into the Commonwealth, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Additionally, he faced two counts of carrying an illegal firearm as a subsequent offense, indicating a prior history with firearms-related charges. The investigation leading to the indictment was a collaborative effort, and the prosecution of the case was assigned to an assistant district attorney who had presented the case to the grand jury. While an arraignment date in Fall River Superior Court was pending at the time of the announcement, the indictment marked a pivotal development in the pursuit of justice for Derek Pires.
