New Bedford man sentenced for shooting; victim, witness uncooperative

FALL RIVER — A 28-year-old New Bedford man has pleaded guilty in connection with a 2021 shooting that left two people injured.

Lyrik Vernosky, 28, of New Bedford, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in Fall River Superior Court before Judge Raffi Yessayan on December 19, 2025 to serve a state prison sentence of 4 1/2 years for two counts of battery by discharge of a firearm and unlawful carrying of a firearm with a violent crime or serious drug offense, Bristol County Prosecutor Thomas M. Quinn III announced. in a press release. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia. On February 6, 2021, New Bedford Police responded to 78 Tallman Street for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, they located two victims in the fourth floor apartment. The victims were identified as Jesus Torres and José Ramos.

The accused fired through the door at the victims

Torres suffered a gunshot wound to the lower back and Ramos suffered a gunshot wound to the arm, which also penetrated the lower back. Both victims were transported to receive medical treatment.

Officers on site noted that the apartment door had significant damage with several bullet holes. Ramos identified Defendant Vernosky as the shooter and indicated that Defendant knocked on his door and asked if Ramos had fired any shots the previous night.

When Ramos responded that he had not shot the night before, Vernosky closed the apartment door and began shooting through the door.

Ramos identified a photograph of the defendant and told police the shooting took place in drug trafficking “turf.”

A neighbor also said a man was present the night of the shooting, got into an argument with both victims, and then fired through the apartment door, striking both victims.

One of the victims killed in another incident

While this case was pending, victim Jesus Torres was killed in a separate incident unrelated to this defendant. “I am pleased that the defendant was held accountable for this senseless act of violence that resulted in the deaths of two people. Unfortunately, witnesses were uncooperative and one of the victims was murdered while the case was ongoing. This case highlights the difficulties prosecutors face in these types of cases. It appears the shooting was drug-related,” Quinn said.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford man pleads guilty in 2021 double shooting