DA: Fall River man was protecting other parkgoers when he was fatally stabbed in Brockton

BROCKTON — A Brockton man was held without bail after being arraigned on charges that he fatally stabbed a Fall River man inside a city park over the weekend.

Johnny Richmond, 36, of Brockton, pleaded not guilty in Brockton District Court on Monday to a charge of murder. A judge ordered Richmond held without bail at the request of the prosecutor from the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office.

Brockton police responded to Finnegan Park, at the corner of Crescent and Montello streets, about 6:13 p.m. on Saturday after receiving several 911 calls reporting a stabbing.

"Upon arrival, Brockton police officers located a male victim, and he was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was pronounced dead of his injuries," the DA's office said in a written statement.

The victim was identified as 39-year-old Edmar Goncalves, of Fall River.

"Brockton Police conducted witness interviews on scene and determined the stabbing suspect to be Richmond," the DA's office said. "He was arrested a short time later in the vicinity of the stabbing. Richmond had a laceration to his hand and was transported to South Shore Hospital for treatment."

Brockton police contacted Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County DA's office and a joint investigation ensued.

"Preliminarily, it appears that Richmond was threatening several people at the park with a pocketknife that evening, and Goncalves approached Richmond to intervene before Richmond stabbed the victim," the DA's office said.

Richmond is due back in court on Aug. 20 for a probable cause hearing.

Enterprise senior reporter Cody Shepard can be reached by email at cshepard@enterprisenews.com.