In the early hours of September 4, 2021, the sounds of a party on Sprague Street in Brockton, Massachusetts were tragically interrupted by gunfire. Amidst the chaos that ensued as a large crowd scattered, 16-year-old Liedson Monteiro-Terry, a male student at Brockton Champion High School, was found on the ground with a gunshot wound to his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 1:05 a.m., was initially detected by a ShotSpotter alert that registered three gunshots in the area.
The investigation into Monteiro-Terry's death was a collaborative effort between the Brockton Police and Massachusetts State Police. Detectives interviewed numerous witnesses who were present at the party and meticulously reviewed video surveillance from the neighborhood. This extensive investigation eventually led them to identify several suspects. Prosecutors later revealed that the shooting may have stemmed from a dispute involving the victim's older brother. Friends and family remembered Liedson as an enthusiastic and well-liked young man who had a passion for football, having played since he was young.
In June 2022, authorities announced significant progress in the case with the arrests of Angel Colon, 22, and Angel Vasquez, 23, on murder charges. A third suspect, 21-year-old Malik Cotton, initially evaded capture but turned himself in to the Brockton District Court in July 2022. All three men were subsequently indicted by a Plymouth County grand jury on one count of murder. In addition to the primary suspects, two other individuals faced charges in connection with the investigation. Alexandria Rodrigues, 21, was charged with perjury, and William Houston, 21, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and being an accessory before the fact. Colon, Vasquez, and Cotton were all arraigned and held without bail.
