Horseneck Road murder victim was shot dead

Jul 16, 2020

A preliminary autopsy on a murder victim found at the side of Horseneck Road yesterday morning has revealed that he died from apparent gunshot wounds, according to an update from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

The body of 27-year-old Jose Cortez Cornejo of New Bedford was found just after 5 a.m. on July 14 near 180 Horseneck Road.

Dartmouth Police received a 911 call at 5:10 a.m. on Tuesday from a motorist who reported seeing a man collapsed on the side of the road. Police and paramedics determined Cornejo to be deceased after arriving on scene.

Members of the Dartmouth Police Department are assisting Massachusetts State Police detectives and Homicide Unit prosecutors in the ongoing investigation of the murder, which is thought to have taken place some time late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

According to the district attorney’s office, the preliminary autopsy was conducted by the state Medical Examiner’s Office.

Any residents with any information regarding this case or who may have been in the area of 180 Horseneck Road between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. are urged to contact Dartmouth Police or the district attorney’s office.

Anonymous tips can be texted to the office by texting the word “Bristol” to the phone number CRIMES (274637), followed by the tip. A web-based anonymous tip can be submitted at this website.