Massachusetts Man Accused of Brutal Double Murder After Backyard Fight
A "Friendly Boxing Match" Allegedly Ended in a Double Murder Involving a Pitchfork and a Cobblestone
According to the New York Post, 28-year-old Vitor Francisco Gomes stands accused of carrying out a horrifying double murder that left two young men dead in Fall River, Massachusetts. Prosecutors allege Gomes killed Eduardo Cardosa DaSilva, 19, and Pablo Henrique Rocha-Dasilva, 20, following a dispute that began after an informal boxing match among friends.
Witnesses told investigators that Eduardo had knocked Gomes unconscious during the backyard sparring session. Humiliated and enraged, Gomes allegedly demanded a rematch, but Eduardo refused.
Hours later, tensions boiled over. Prosecutors say Gomes confronted the pair as they sat inside a vehicle preparing to leave the area. During a heated argument, Gomes allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired multiple shots through the driver’s side window, striking Pablo.
The violence didn’t stop there.
Authorities allege Eduardo fled toward the rear of the property in a desperate attempt to escape. He was later discovered face-down, dead from a gunshot wound, with a pitchfork embedded in the back of his skull — a gruesome scene that investigators described as one of shocking brutality.
Prosecutors say Gomes then turned his attention back to Pablo. After allegedly dragging the wounded 20-year-old from the vehicle by his collar, Gomes is accused of repeatedly striking him in the head with the firearm. When that wasn’t enough, investigators allege he grabbed a loose cobblestone from the driveway and continued the attack, bludgeoning Pablo until he succumbed to his injuries.
Gomes was arrested nearby and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
This scene must have been so surreal and traumatizing. Although there are a ton of people hurting due to this crime, I’m going to just focus on the EMTs and first responders who had to come upon this scene and handle it. This sounds like something out of a horror movie.
So, I found The Code Green Campaign, which is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization focused on mental health advocacy and education for first responders. It works to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide among professionals such as firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, police officers, dispatchers, and others in emergency services.