Two Convicted in Brockton Superior Court for the 2022 Murder of Solar Salesperson Brima Koroma
BROCKTON, Mass. — A Plymouth Superior Court jury has returned guilty verdicts against two individuals connected to the tragic shooting death of 24-year-old Brima Koroma in March 2022.
Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz announced that Brendan Fernandes, 37, of Brockton, was found guilty of first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition without an FID card. Additionally, Destiny Fontes-Silie, 30, of Warwick, Rhode Island, was found guilty of being an accessory after the fact to murder.
A Senseless Dispute Over “Turf”
The case dates back to the afternoon of March 15, 2022, when Brockton Police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a shooting near 401 East Street. First responders found Koroma suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest; he was rushed to Brockton Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
According to trial testimony and witness reports, Koroma—working at the time as a door-to-door solar salesperson—had knocked on a home on Carrie Ann Drive and was directed across the street to Fernandes, who was working on a vehicle. Witnesses stated that Fernandes became hostile, yelled at Koroma, and threatened him, shouting, “This is my turf, bro, this is my hood.”
As Koroma walked away toward East Street, prosecutors established that Fernandes followed him in a vehicle. Witnesses testified that Fernandes got out brandishing a gun while Koroma raised his hands, apologizing and saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” before being shot. Another witness noted that Koroma appeared to be holding up his phone to record the confrontation, and that Fernandes took the phone after the shooting.
Following an intensive joint investigation by Brockton Police and the Massachusetts State Police unit assigned to the DA’s office, arrest warrants were issued. The suspects were tracked down and apprehended the very next day by the Virginia State Police in Chesterfield, Virginia.
Loved ones remembered Koroma through a GoFundMe campaign as “a light in the lives of so many,” noting that everyone he met was touched by his gentle and positive spirit.
Understanding the Legal Penalties Under Massachusetts Law
The verdicts carry severe statutory consequences:
First-Degree Murder (M.G.L. c. 265, § 1): Defined in Massachusetts as an unlawful killing committed with deliberate premeditation, extreme atrocity or cruelty, or during the commission of a life felony. Adult offenders convicted under this charge face a mandatory, non-negotiable sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Accessory After the Fact (M.G.L. c. 274, § 4): Applies to individuals who harbor, conceal, or assist a principal offender with knowledge that they committed a felony, aiming to help them evade justice. A conviction carries a maximum penalty of up to 7 years in state prison, up to 2½ years in a house of correction, or a fine of up to $1,000.
Both defendants are scheduled to appear back in Brockton Superior Court on October 8th for their formal sentencing hearing.
