On a spring afternoon, the life of 14-year-old Miguel Angel Sanjurjo was tragically cut short. The male teen, born in Brooklyn, was fatally shot on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, near Griffin Park in Fall River, Massachusetts. A student at the Fall River Resiliency Preparatory School, Miguel was remembered by his family and teachers as a well-liked young man who loved to play basketball, ride his moped, and spend time with his extensive family.
The incident, which unfolded around 4:20 p.m., also resulted in the death of 29-year-old Jovaughn Antonio Mills and injured a 19-year-old man who ultimately survived.
Emergency services responded to 911 calls reporting gunfire in the park area. Upon arrival, they found Miguel and Jovaughn suffering from gunshot wounds. Miguel was transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The investigation into the brazen daylight shooting was a collaborative effort involving the Fall River Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives, and homicide unit prosecutors.
In the days following the shooting, authorities made arrests in connection with the double homicide. Jeremy Holmes, who was 18 at the time of the incident, was identified as the suspect who allegedly fired multiple rounds into a crowd at Griffin Park. Holmes was subsequently arrested and faced charges including two counts of murder and one count of assault and battery by means of a firearm, in addition to several firearms-related charges. Another man, Dana Mazyck, was also arrested on firearms charges related to the incident.
The legal proceedings culminated in the conviction of Jeremy Holmes. In November 2024, a jury found Holmes guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to serve two consecutive life sentences, amounting to a total of 50 years to life in prison for the murders of Miguel Sanjurjo and Jovaughn Mills. To honor Miguel's memory, a memorial bench bearing his name was dedicated at Griffin Park on the two-year anniversary of his death.
