A New Bedford man was sentenced to more than four years in prison for a double shooting despite one of the key witnesses being murdered while the case was pending.
Lyrik Vernosky, 28, pleaded guilty on Dec. 19 to two counts of assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, as well as unlawful carrying of a firearm, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
In February 2021, Vernosky shot through the door of an apartment in New Bedford, hitting two men inside the apartment, according to prosecutors. Both victims survived.
One of the victims initially identified Vernosky as the shooter and told police the attack was over “turf” related to drug dealing, according to prosecutors. A neighbor also identified a male who was present on the night of the shooting, according to prosecutors, but neither the victim nor the neighbor cooperated with the trial process.
Vernosky was arrested less than three weeks after the shooting.
The other shooting victim, Jesus Torres, was murdered in an unrelated incident before Vernosky’s case could proceed, according to officials.
Bristol County DA Tom Quinn said the lack of witnesses hindered the case, but he was happy with the sentence.
“I am pleased that the defendant was held accountable for this senseless act of violence which resulted in two people being shot,” Quinn said in a statement. “Unfortunately, witnesses were not cooperative and one of the victims was murdered while the case was pending. This case highlights the difficulties prosecutors face in these types of cases.”
