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Reported by us | Fall River

One held without bail, one released after Superior Court arraignments in Fall River Slade Street shooting case

Both return to court Dec. 10 for a pretrial conference.

By the SC360 Courts and Crime Desk | Published Oct. 27, 2026 | Last verified Oct. 27, 2026, 10:36 p.m. ET

FALL RIVER A man charged with firing three shots near another person at a Fall River intersection in August was held without bail Tuesday, Oct. 27, after pleading not guilty in Fall River Superior Court, and a woman charged with helping him hide from police was released on personal recognizance, the Fall River Reporter reported.

James Hickey, 36, and Dominique Starks, 34, were each arraigned on grand jury indictments, according to the outlet, which cited court records for the charges and the court clerk for Starks's release. Both had been arraigned earlier in Fall River District Court after their arrests in August, the outlet reported.

The charges as indicted

Hickey was indicted on two counts of a firearm violation with one prior drug or violent crime, three counts of possession of a large capacity feeding device, assault and battery attempt with a firearm, and carrying a loaded firearm without a license, the Fall River Reporter reported, citing court records. He pleaded not guilty and was held without bail.

Starks was indicted on three counts of possession of a large capacity feeding device, possessing a firearm without a firearm identification card, possessing ammunition without a firearm identification card, accessory after the fact, and intimidation of a witness, police officer or court official, the outlet reported. She pleaded not guilty and was released on personal recognizance, which means without cash bail. Hickey and Starks are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

What police said happened

Fall River police said officers were called at about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, for reported gunfire and went to the intersection of Slade and Scott streets, NBC 10 and WBSM reported the next day from the department's account. After talking with witnesses and the victim, investigators determined that Hickey fired three shots near the victim, police said. No one was hit, the Fall River Reporter reported.

Police said Hickey was found hiding inside a nearby residence and that a search warrant led officers to seize a firearm and ammunition. The department's Major Crimes Division assisted, according to the Fall River Reporter's account, which attributed the details to Acting Chief J.T. Hoar.

Police said Starks gave misleading statements to try to help Hickey hide from officers, and she was arrested as well. At the time, police charged Hickey with assault with a dangerous weapon and unlicensed possession of a firearm, subsequent offense, and said he would also be charged as a repeat offender, WBSM reported. The indictments returned since then carry the charges listed above.

What the charges carry

Chapter 269, Section 10G, of the General Laws sets a state prison term of 3 to 15 years for a person previously convicted of a violent crime or a serious drug offense who violates the state's firearm licensing law, and the sentence may not be reduced below the minimum or suspended.

Attempting to commit an assault and battery on another person by discharging a firearm is punishable by up to 15 years in state prison, up to 2 1/2 years in a house of correction, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, under Chapter 265, Section 15F.

The witness intimidation law, Chapter 268, Section 13B, covers anyone who willfully misleads, intimidates or harasses a witness, a police officer or a court official, among others, to interfere with a criminal investigation or proceeding. It carries up to 10 years in state prison, up to 2 1/2 years in a house of correction, a fine of $1,000 to $5,000, or both.

What comes next

Hickey and Starks are both scheduled for a pretrial conference in Fall River Superior Court on Thursday, Dec. 10, the Fall River Reporter reported. South Coast 360 will update this story as the cases move.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.

Notes

The Superior Court arraignments, pleas, the charges as indicted, Hickey's hold without bail, Starks's release on personal recognizance and the Dec. 10 pretrial conference come from the Fall River Reporter's Oct. 27 report, which cites court records and the court clerk, and are credited to the outlet until we read the court record. The police account of Aug. 4 comes from the Fall River Police Department as NBC 10 and WBSM reported it Aug. 5; the details only the Fall River Reporter carried are credited to it. The penalties come from the General Laws. We read them on Oct. 27. We checked each date and weekday against a calendar. Not heard: the Bristol County District Attorney's Office, asked Oct. 27.

Corrections

No corrections to this story. If something here is wrong, tell us. Every correction is dated on the story and listed in our public log.

Sources (6)

  1. Fall River Reporter, "One held without bail, one released on personal recognizance in Superior Court, after Fall River shooting" (Oct. 27, 2026)The Superior Court arraignments Tuesday, the not guilty pleas, the indicted charges ("court records show"), Hickey held without bail, Starks released on personal recognizance ("according to the court clerk"), the Dec. 10 pretrial conference, the earlier District Court arraignments; the police account attributed to Acting Chief J.T. Hoar, including that no one was hit and that the Major Crimes Division assisted. Posted Oct. 27, 2026, by 11:48 a.m. Read Oct. 27, 2026.
  2. NBC 10 (WJAR), "Fall River police arrest 2 in connection with shooting" (Aug. 5, 2026)Fall River police account: the 11:30 p.m. gunfire call at Slade and Scott streets, three shots near the victim, Hickey found hiding in a nearby residence with a firearm and ammunition, the charges at arrest, Starks arrested for misleading statements, both ages. Posted Aug. 5, 2026, 11:31 a.m. Read Oct. 27, 2026.
  3. WBSM, "Repeat Offender Captured Hiding in Home Following Fall River Shooting" (Aug. 5, 2026)The Fall River Police Department's Facebook post as WBSM reported it: the Aug. 4 call, the search warrant and the firearm and ammunition seized, the charges at arrest, including subsequent offense and the repeat offender charge, and Starks's arrest. Posted Aug. 5, 2026. Read Oct. 27, 2026.
  4. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 269, Section 10GFirearm violations by people previously convicted of a violent crime or serious drug offense. Read Oct. 27, 2026.
  5. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 265, Section 15FAttempt to commit assault and battery by discharge of a firearm. Read Oct. 27, 2026.
  6. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 268, Section 13BIntimidation of witnesses, police officers, court officials and others. Read Oct. 27, 2026.

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