Welcome to Arrest Stories. A forty-three-year-old man was arrested outside a Brookline synagogue on the eve of Yom Kippur after firing a pellet gun, claiming he was hunting rats. Here's what may have happened.
Wednesday evening brought chaos to Beacon Street when Carlos Portugal Gouvea allegedly discharged two shots from a pellet rifle near Temple Beth Zion synagogue. The incident unfolded at nine-oh-seven in the evening, just hours before the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Two private security guards stationed at the synagogue heard the gunshots and quickly spotted Gouvea holding the pellet rifle. When confronted, he initially set down the weapon but then engaged in what officials described as a "brief physical struggle" with the security personnel before fleeing into his nearby residence.
Police arrived as Gouvea emerged from his home, leading to his arrest on charges of disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and illegally discharging a pellet gun. Officers discovered a shattered car window with a pellet lodged inside the vehicle, providing physical evidence of the shooting.
During questioning, Gouvea told investigators he was "using the pellet rifle to hunt rats in the area." Officials later stated he "was unaware that he lived next to, and was shooting his BB gun next to, a synagogue or that it was a religious holiday."
Authorities emphasized that while the incident was "potentially dangerous to use a BB gun in such a populated spot," it "does not appear to have been fueled by antisemitism." Police found no indication that Gouvea was targeting the synagogue specifically.
The following day, Gouvea appeared in Brookline District Court where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was released on his own recognizance pending further proceedings.
The timing of the incident, occurring on the eve of Yom Kippur at a synagogue, initially raised concerns about potential hate crimes, but investigators concluded the shooting appeared to be an unfortunate coincidence rather than a targeted attack.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.