In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Fall River, Massachusetts, a dispute that began within the walls of a local sports bar tragically escalated, claiming the life of 45-year-old José Roberto Solorzano Zelaya. A Hispanic male, Zelaya was fatally shot outside the Riverside Sports Bar and Restaurant on Rodman Street on October 9, 2022. The events leading to his death started with an altercation inside the establishment that spilled out into the street.
According to reports, a fight
broke out between a man later identified as Luis Colon-Delgado and another individual. As the conflict moved outdoors, Zelaya, who had been outside and was not involved in the initial dispute, attempted to assist a bouncer at the establishment. This act of intervention reportedly angered another group of men, leading to the fatal shooting. When first responders arrived at the scene shortly after midnight, they found Zelaya on the ground with a gunshot wound. He was transported to Saint Anne's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:20 a.m.
The investigation that followed led to the arrests of three men from Fall River. Luis Colon-Delgado, 42, was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Jose Pagan, 23, faced charges including accessory after the fact to an assault and battery by discharge of a firearm. A third suspect, 36-year-old Anthony Miranda, was identified as the alleged shooter and was charged with manslaughter, assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, and illegal firearm possession.
In June of 2023, both Colon-Delgado and Pagan pleaded guilty to their respective charges. Colon-Delgado was sentenced to three years in prison for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery. Pagan received a one-year prison sentence for accessory after the fact, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery. At that time, Anthony Miranda had pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charge and was awaiting trial.
