Northwestern District Attorney’s Office Provides Public Information Related to Shooting in The Patch Neighborhood
Official press release from the office of Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan
For Immediate Release: Aug. 30, 2023
Contact: Laurie Loisel, Director of Communication and Outreach
(413) 374-7604; laurie.loisel@mass.gov
Man faces 11 charges in connection with shooting
GREENFIELD– A Sunrise, Florida man faced 11 charges today in Greenfield District Court stemming
from a shooting incident in Turners Falls Tuesday that left one man injured.
Gil Viera, 30, pleaded not guilty to these charges:
• assault and battery with a dangerous weapon;
• assault and battery with a firearm;
• assault and battery causing serious bodily injury;
• possession of a firearm in commission of a felony;
• possession of ammunition without an FID card;
• possession of heroin;
• possession of cocaine;
• discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a residence;
• carrying a firearm without a license;
• withholding evidence from a criminal proceeding;
• disorderly conduct.
At the request of Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Aidan Lanciani, Greenfield District
Court Judge William Mazanec ordered Viera held without bail for 120 days based on being too
dangerous to release. Once that 120-day hold is up, Viera would have to post $100,000.00 cash bail
to be released. Viera was represented in court by defense attorney Dierdre Gleason. Judge Mazanec
set Sept. 26 for a pretrial conference in the case.
The shooting took place shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday near 30 11th St. Turners Falls. The victim, a
30- year-old Athol man, was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield for treatment of
injuries. After the shooting, local and state police searched for Viera and arrested him without
incident at 6:30 p.m. on Route 91 in Holyoke.
Criminal charges are based on probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
