Man fatally shot after ‘minor car accident’ in Plymouth city center

Local news

David Jerome, 23, faces multiple charges related to the shooting, including murder, child endangerment and possession of a large-capacity feeding device.

A 23-year-old man allegedly shot and killed another Plymouth man following a minor traffic accident in downtown Plymouth Friday evening, authorities said.

Plymouth District Attorney Tim Cruz announced that David Jerome, of Plymouth, was arrested in the Middle Street town parking lot where the shooting took place around 5:45 p.m. Jerome faces multiple charges related to the shooting, including murder, child endangerment and possession of a large-capacity feeding device.

The prosecutor alleges Jerome and the other man were involved in a “minor traffic accident and a physical fight.” Brent Berkeley, 41, was later shot multiple times and transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth, where he died.

“Whether it was road rage or not, we’re not going to speculate on what the cause was,” Cruz said. he said at the press conference. “There was clearly anger there that evening.”

Cruz said Jerome was legally licensed to carry a gun, meaning he had no prior criminal record. He also faces charges of discharging a firearm within 150 feet of a building, improper storage of a firearm, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and improper storage of ammunition.

Witnesses identified Jerome as the alleged attacker and Plymouth police arrested Jerome, the prosecutor said. Jerome’s 18-month-old son was in the back of his Toyota Rav 4.

Plymouth Independent reported Witnesses saw Jerome try to save Berkeley by performing CPR. The news organization said Jerome allegedly fired a high-capacity weapon, the same type of weapons he claimed on his Facebook page.

“We live in a world now where a lot of people have short fuses and terrible things happen very quickly, they can escalate very quickly,” Cruz said. “Unfortunately, look at the aftermath, look at what happened, look at how one family lost someone forever, the other family will face significant problems and it affects society.”

Pub in Plymouth raises money for victim’s children, partner

Middle Street town car park is located nearby. Speedwell TavernWhere Berkeley’s partner works. The area was closed for about 45 minutes, Cruz said.

Speedwell Tavern owner Jordan Chabot wrote on Facebook that the business will be closed until Monday.

“The community response has been overwhelming. Plymouth is a unique place… and we see each other again and again,” Chabot wrote. “But out of respect for the victims of this terrible event, we must temper that energy and ensure we grant them their privacy and dignity.”

Chabot said they will donate the entire day of operations on Friday to support Berkeley’s family. He also made a link GoFundMe to support his partner Jessie and their two children. The statement for the fundraiser stated that the couple had spent more than half their lives together.

“Brent was a hard-working and dedicated father. He was truly one of a kind and loved by everyone who knew him,” wrote fundraiser organizer Meggie Linde, who also worked at Speedwell. “In the blink of an eye and in a senseless act of violence, Brent is now gone and Jessie is left to raise two beautiful children as a single parent.” “He had to.”

The GoFundMe had raised more than $101,000 of the $150,000 goal as of Sunday evening.

Jerome is expected to appear in court on Monday.

---

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime and more.

---