Brockton, Massachusetts – Vasco Semedo faced a judge during his arraignment on Monday, wearing handcuffs and listening through an interpreter as a prosecutor described a chilling attack on pedestrian Stuart Smith. Smith, 50, tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during the incident on Saturday. Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz labeled the episode as a “very gruesome, a very heinous act, intentional act.”
Surveillance footage captured both the pedestrian crash and the subsequent brick attack on Smith. Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague revealed that Semedo, behind the wheel of a blue Toyota RAV 4, deliberately struck Smith twice on North Main Street before exiting the vehicle and assaulting him with a brick. Witness accounts noted Semedo’s violent assault on Smith as he laid injured on the ground until bystanders intervened.
The prosecutor detailed Semedo’s disturbing actions, recounting how he repeatedly struck the victim with a brick over 20 times as bystanders struggled to pull him away. Commending the witnesses who detained Semedo until police arrived, Cruz emphasized the unnecessary and brutal nature of the assault.
Earl Haynes, a friend of the victim, highlighted Smith’s peaceful character and emphasized the need for justice in Semedo’s prosecution. Smith, a resident of a nearby boarding house, was known for his helpful nature and non-confrontational demeanor.
Semedo’s changing accounts of the incident to police, coupled with the retrieval of surveillance footage showing the intentional nature of the attack, painted a grim picture of the events leading to Smith’s tragic death. The prosecutor noted Semedo’s conflicting explanations and the presence of blood on his clothing and hands during police interviews.
The article underscored the stark reality of pedestrian fatalities in incidents involving road rage, citing another recent case involving the death of Destini Decoff in Massachusetts. Semedo, facing murder charges, is scheduled to appear in court on May 14, marking the continuation of legal proceedings in the unsettling case.
As the investigation progresses and more details emerge, the community remains shocked by the violent nature of the attack and the devastating loss of Stuart Smith. The pursuit of justice and accountability for Semedo’s actions remains a focal point in the aftermath of the tragic incident.