Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in 2022 Fatal Bar Shooting

39-year-old New Bedford man sentenced to 10-20 years in prison for killing a bystander during a bar fight.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 2:03am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single spent shell casing, capturing the stark, gritty details of the crime scene evidence in a dramatic, investigative style.A single spent shell casing from the fatal shooting at a Massachusetts bar exposes the violent aftermath of an escalating bar fight.Fall River Today

A 39-year-old New Bedford man named Anthony Miranda-Lizardi has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and illegal firearm charges for fatally shooting a 44-year-old man named Jose Solorzano Zelaya during a 2022 bar fight in Fall River, Massachusetts. Miranda-Lizardi was kicked out of the Riverside Sports Bar twice for fighting before the shooting incident occurred.

Why it matters

This case highlights the dangers of escalating bar fights and the tragic consequences that can occur when firearms are involved, even when the victim was an innocent bystander. It also raises questions about bar security protocols and whether more could have been done to prevent the violence from spilling outside the establishment.

The details

According to prosecutors, on October 9, 2022, Miranda-Lizardi got into a fight with four other men at the Riverside Sports Bar in Fall River. Bouncers kicked Miranda-Lizardi and a friend out of the bar twice. As a fight involving Miranda-Lizardi ensued outside, his friend tried to take a chair from inside to use as a weapon. When Solorzano Zelaya, who was not part of the fight, stepped in to help a bouncer take the chair away, Miranda-Lizardi's friend and two others began fighting Solorzano Zelaya. Miranda-Lizardi then joined them, using his gun to beat Solorzano Zelaya twice. On the second hit, the gun went off, fatally striking Solorzano Zelaya. Miranda-Lizardi and others involved fled the scene, but Miranda-Lizardi was later identified as the gunman by his friend who was arrested.

  • On October 9, 2022, Fall River police responded to the Riverside Sports Bar around 1:30 a.m. for a report of a shooting.
  • On March 20, 2026, Anthony Miranda-Lizardi pleaded guilty to manslaughter and illegal firearm charges.

The players

Anthony Miranda-Lizardi

A 39-year-old New Bedford man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and illegal firearm charges for fatally shooting Jose Solorzano Zelaya during a bar fight in Fall River in 2022.

Jose Solorzano Zelaya

A 44-year-old man who was fatally shot by Anthony Miranda-Lizardi during a bar fight in Fall River in 2022, despite not being directly involved in the altercation.

Thomas Quinn III

The Bristol County District Attorney who described Miranda-Lizardi as a "career criminal" and "clear danger to the community" in a press release.

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What they’re saying

“The defendant is a career criminal who killed an innocent man for no reason. He is a clear danger to the community.”

— Thomas Quinn III, Bristol County District Attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case has sentenced Miranda-Lizardi to 10 to 20 years in state prison on the manslaughter and illegal firearm charges.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the need for better security protocols and conflict de-escalation training at bars and nightlife establishments to prevent senseless violence from erupting and harming innocent bystanders. It also raises broader questions about gun violence, repeat offenders, and public safety in Massachusetts communities.