Suspect in Brockton murder no stranger to police

When Joao Teixeira was shot and wounded two years ago, he insisted he didn’t know who did it or why, perpetuating the “code of silence” credited with escalating gun and gang violence in the city.

Now, the 20-year-old Brockton man is behind bars, accused of killing a Taunton teen over the weekend, after witnesses came forward — and authorities are taking no chances with their safety.

At Teixeira’s arraignment in Brockton District Court on Monday, the witnesses were identified by number — not name — by Assistant District Attorney Peter Maguire. The police report detailing evidence — and names of witnesses — was impounded.

“My office is utilizing all of the tools at our disposal to ensure the safety of our witnesses,” Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said.

The need to take those steps was highlighted at Teixeira’s arraignment where a large group of people who knew the victim and defendant had gathered — and one man outside was later arrested with a gun after a foot chase.

Protecting witnesses is one step but keeping violent offenders locked up is also key, the district attorney said.

A judge Monday afternoon refused to hold as dangerous Earl B. Garner, 17, who was arrested last Friday afternoon on gun and drug charges after crashing a car into a house following a shooting. Bail was set at $3,000 cash.

Accused killer Teixeira was out on bail on charges of assault and battery on a police officer at the time of the fatal shooting. That bail was formally revoked Monday when he was arraigned on murder charges.

“It is essential that the public have confidence in our justice system,” Cruz said. “We not only need witnesses to come forward in all of these cases, but we also need them to know that when they do come forward — it means something.”

Cruz said violent criminals need to be held on high bail to prevent violence from escalating.

“The public needs to know that police and prosecutors are working hard, that when appropriate requests are made for bail, then judges will hold defendants, and that when violent criminals are convicted, they will be sent to jail. It is incumbent upon us all to do our part.”

Teixeira of 726 East St., Brockton was arraigned Monday in Brockton District Court on charges of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. Teixeira, who pleaded innocent, was ordered held without bail.

Police were sent to the courthouse where a large group had gathered, to prevent problems.

Authorities learned one man outside the courthouse was armed with a gun. That suspect was caught after a foot chase and a gun recovered. State police identified him as Nathan DaSilva, 22, of Ellsworth Street, Brockton. He was to be arraigned today in Brockton District Court.

“We’re still investigating why he was outside the courthouse, what he intended to do and also with whom he is affiliated in connection with the homicide,” said David Procopio, spokesman for the state police.

Teixeira is accused of shooting to death Keith M. Leverone, 19, of Taunton early Saturday in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven on Belmont Street.

Leverone died of a single gunshot wound to the head, an autopsy found.

Teixeira was charged after authorities learned he had been involved in a “physical alteration” with the victim shortly before the shooting, said Assistant District Attorney Bridget Norton Middleton, spokesman for Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.

Teixeira was then seen arming himself with a handgun, she said. Right after that, Leverone was shot, she said.

Teixeira has a record of drug and gun crimes. He was one of more than two dozen people arrested in a law enforcement sweep in the city aimed at crack cocaine sales in June 2007.

At the time, he was charged with cocaine distribution and unlawful possession of a gun and unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device.

That arrest came a month after he was shot and wounded in the buttocks, lower back and right arm on Park Street as he walked toward Warren Avenue. At the time he told police he didn’t know who shot him or why.

Maureen Boyle can be reached at mboyle@enterprisenews.com.