FALL RIVER, MA (WBSM) — A New Bedford man, Alphanso Richards, 62, was sentenced to up to life in prison after pleading guilty to the 2021 second-degree murder of his son-in-law, Naurik Michel-Brown. Richards was handed a sentence of 19 and a half years to life in state prison.
In addition to the murder charge, Richards was sentenced to eight to 10 years for the attempted assault and battery with a firearm on his daughter, Tiamara Michel-Brown.
The tragic incident occurred on August 9, 2021, when the Michel-Brown family visited Car Tunes on Ashley Boulevard in New Bedford to check on a vehicle. Naurik Michel-Brown was outside when Richards approached him. Tiamara Michel-Brown, who witnessed the encounter, described seeing her father extend his arm toward her husband, followed by gunshots. Her husband collapsed to the ground, and she fled to a nearby gas station to call 911. Additional gunshots were fired in her direction as she sought safety.
The shooting occurred in broad daylight and was captured on surveillance video. Following the crime, Richards fled Massachusetts, but on October 10, 2021, Virginia state troopers located him while he was traveling south on Route 95. A search of his vehicle revealed his registered firearm, which turned out to be the murder weapon.
District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III condemned the crime as a senseless act of violence, emphasizing the lasting impact on the family, especially the three children who are now without their father. “This is another senseless act of violence committed in broad daylight with total disregard for the safety of the victims and the public,” said Quinn.
Richards’ conviction highlights the devastating consequences of violence, not only for the victims but also for the entire community affected by such actions.