New Bedford gang member sentenced to life in prison for 2017 murder

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — A New Bedford gang member convicted of the 2017 murder of 18-year-old Brad Lourenco at Roberto Clemente Park was sentenced to life in prison on Monday.

Ivan Fontanez, 26, was sentenced to life in prison, withholding eligibility for parole for 20 years, on charges of second degree murder, illegally carrying a firearm, and carrying a loaded firearm.

Fontanez’s lawyer argued that while Lourenco’s death was a tragedy, Fontanez’s upbringing was also a tragedy.

The defense further stated that he didn’t know his father, and got involved in a gang while searching for guidance.

A statement from Lourenco’s uncle was also read by prosecutors during the sentencing, which read in part, “Our family will never recover from the loss of Brad. Brad was only 18-years-old, he had just graduated high school, we were all so proud of him. He had his whole life to live, he was a smart, creative, and energetic boy.”

According to prosecutors, on June 5, 2017, Fontanez got a ride from Temple Landing to Rivet Street, walked to the Roberto Clemente Park, and fired a gun nine times at a group of people in broad daylight.

Officials said Lourenco was shot in the back of the head. He later died from his injuries.

“The shooting was likely the results of an ongoing feud between rival gangs in New Bedford and was in retaliation to an incident that occurred about a week before the homicide involving the non-fatal shooting of Fontanez’s half-brother,” the prosecution said at his arraignment.

Fontanez and a co-conspirator, identified as Keeland Rose, who pleaded guilty to accessory to murder in 2019, then took off and ditched clothing items, which were recovered by investigators and used as DNA evidence. The murder weapon was also found hidden on the nearby pedestrian foot bridge.

Prosecutors said they got into the back of a pickup truck on Route 18, hoping to flee from the gang chasing them.

The driver of the truck told them to get out, and Fontanez and Rose grabbed hand tools from the back of the truck to defend themselves. Police arrested them shortly after.

Fontanez will return to court for illegal gun charges on Jan. 19, 2024.