Fall River man indicted in January shooting outside courthouse

FALL RIVER — Rodney Jette has been indicted in Superior Court on eight firearms and vandalism charges after police alleged he opened fire near Fall River Justice Center in broad daylight early this year.

Prosecutors allege the 18-year-old Fall River resident fired several gunshots near the corner of South Main Street and South Frontage Road just after 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, before fleeing the scene. No injuries were reported.

Jette appeared in Fall River Superior Court Thursday when he was arraigned on three counts of attempted assault and battery with a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, two counts of vandalizing property and one count of causing malicious damage to a motor vehicle. Jette pleaded not guilty to each offense.

The indictment, handed down March 28, moves Jette’s case from District Court to Superior Court.

Police Chief Albert Dupere said at a press conference one day after the incident that two people who knew each other started arguing in District Court. The argument “spilled out” onto South Main Street, and shots were fired.

The gunfire shut down a portion of South Main Street for nearly two hours. Police collected shell casings and scoured the area, but were unable to immediately locate a suspect.

Two bullets broke through a window and sailed into a conference room where employees of the law offices at 70 South Main St. were meeting. At least one occupied vehicle was hit, just missing a man sitting in the passenger seat.

Police identified Jette as the suspect about two weeks later and issued a warrant for his arrest. Jette’s whereabouts were still unknown to law enforcement Feb. 14, when Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III identified Jette as one of the county's most wanted fugitives.

Jette surrendered at Fall River Justice Center accompanied by his defense attorney Patrick McDonald later Feb. 14. At the time, Dupere said detectives identified Jette as the alleged shooter by reviewing security camera footage and interviewing witnesses.

Several details about the case remain unknown. A police report generated about the incident has been impounded, according to the clerk’s office.

A dangerousness hearing for a judge to determine whether Jette is given bail before his trial was requested by Assistant District Attorney Michael A. Cahillane. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30.

Defense attorney McDonald did not immediately respond to a request for comment left at his law office Thursday.