One man is facing charges stemming form the fight

Brian Fraga Herald News Staff Reporter @BfragaHN

FALL RIVER - A Fall River teen suffered a life-threatening head injury after being knocked out during a fight Tuesday on Chavenson Street.

The victim, 17, was punched when he tried to intervene in the fight between his friend and Marques Joseph, 22, of Fall River, according to court documents.

The fight stemmed from a running argument between Joseph and the victim’s friend over a parking spot on Chavenson Street, according to police reports.

Joseph, who is alleged to have punched the victim in the face and knocked him to the ground, turned himself in to the Fall River Police on Wednesday. Charged with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, Marques is being detained until a May 1 dangerousness hearing at Fall River District Court.

Meanwhile, the victim was listed this week in stable but life-threatening condition at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He suffered a fractured skull, a brain bleed and a laceration to the right side of his lip, according to court documents.

The victim’s friends drove him to Charlton Memorial Hospital after the fight. Police said the victim was in and out of consciousness, but managed to tell officers that the incident happened near his friend’s house on Chavenson Street, just before 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Police officers searched the area and spoke with a witness who described seeing the fight. According to witness statements, Joseph and the victim’s friend had arranged to meet and fight after communicating with each other on Facebook messenger.

During the fight, witnesses said Joseph got the better of the individual. The victim reportedly told Joseph to stop and stepped toward him, at which point Joseph punched him. Fall River police officers viewed a cellphone video of the fight recorded by someone at the scene, according to court documents.

Joseph spoke with police detectives and said he felt threatened, adding that the 17-year-old victim approached him with a closed fist. After the fight, Joseph left the scene with his friends. Joseph told police he was not aware of the victim’s serious injuries.

Joseph was arraigned Thursday at Fall River District Court.

Email Brian Fraga at bfraga@heraldnews.com