By George P. Hassett

A 43-year-old Somerville man who lost a fight to a man about to smoke a joint in his basement was arrested Dec. 15 after he flew into a rage and said he would kill the man, according to police.

Louis Sousa, of 142 Holland St., was at the center of crowd of about a dozen people yelling and fighting at 132 Central St. when officers arrived, police said. In front of six police officers, several firefighters, ambulance personnel and more than a dozen spectators, Sousa repeatedly said he was going to get a gun and murder the person that beat him up, police said. He allegedly said he had access to a gun and would use it.

Sousa was extremely irate and refused to listen to officers who tried to calm him, police said.

The alleged victim told police he was about to smoke a joint in the basement of the triple decker he lives in with Sousa and his family when Sousa showed up drunk and told him and his friends to leave, police said.

Sousa allegedly picked up a shovel and threatened to kick them out. The alleged victim said, “All hell broke loose” and he and Sousa fought, according to police.

After officers interviewed the alleged victim, they returned outside and Sousa was gone, they said. Sousa, police said, was one block away at his sister’s house yelling, swearing and making threats.

He said he did not care about going to jail, police said. He was arrested and charged with threatening to commit a crime and disorderly conduct.