Fall River convenience store shooter convicted of first-degree murder

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — A Fall River man was sentenced to life in prison for shooting and killing a convenience store owner back in 2021.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday that a jury convicted 40-year-old Nelson Coelho of murdering Stop N Save owner Lal Kishor Mahaseth on Oct. 18, 2021.

Officials said evidence presented during the trial proved Coelho ambushed Mahaseth, entering the store on Rock Street with a handgun and shooting him in the chest before fleeing the scene.

Coelho was arrested on Oct. 26, 2021, and charged with murder, attempted armed robbery, and carrying an illegal firearm.

He was convicted of first-degree murder, armed robbery and carrying an illegal firearm after a five-day trial, including seven hours of deliberation by the jury.

The District Attorney’s Office added that Coelho was convicted of committing an armed robbery at the 7Days Food Mart in Fall River the night before the murder, using the money from the robbery to purchase crack cocaine with his friends.

Coelho was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility for parole in addition to eight to 10 years in state prison for the armed robbery, per officials.

“I am very pleased the jury held the defendant accountable for this brutal and senseless murder,” District Attorney Thomas Quinn said in a statement. “The victim was just trying to make a living to support his family, who had come over from Nepal.”