NH Judge Holds Brookline Shooting Suspect On Preventative Detention

CONCORD, NH — Robert Gagnon, 45, appeared via video in Carrol County Superior Court on Friday for arraignment on an attempted second-degree murder charge in connection to a shooting in Brookline of Carlos Quintong on Wednesday.

Gagnon appeared by video from the Hillsborough Department of Corrections. Due to the court's holiday schedule, all arraignments Friday were held in Carrol County Superior Court.

Senior Assistant Attorney Ben Agati requested Gagnon be held on preventative detention based on the fact the charge brings a sentence of up to life in prison.

Gagnon entered a not-guilty plea through his appointed attorneys, Sarah Rothman and Meridith Lugo, and was ordered held in jail on preventive detention. While Rothman and Lugo didn’t object to Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati’s request for preventive detention, they left open the possibility of scheduling a bail hearing in the near future.

Prosecutors asked for the affidavit and complaint to be sealed due to an ongoing investigation, and the judge agreed to have it sealed until the end of the day Monday. He told Agati he could ask for a redacted version or to unseal it as the investigation progresses.

Gagnon’s last known address in the court proceeding was listed as 455 Willow Street in Manchester, the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections. Previously Gagnon resided in Wilton.

Authorities continue an active investigation of the death of Robert Prest, 83, of Lyndeborough.

He was killed at 774 Center Road in Lyndeborough where he lived, a short distance from where they were searching for Gagnon, but no official connection has been made at this time.

Also Read

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• Manhunt Through NH Towns; One Dead, One Taken Into Custody In Nashua
• Police Investigating Brookline, Lyndeborough Shootings; Suspect Caught

On Saturday, a state medical examiner performed an autopsy on Prest. He was killed due to "blunt impact head injuries," and the manner of his death was found to be a homicide.

"The examination concluded that the head injury was indeed from blunt impact forces, rather than from having been shot," Michael Garrity, the New Hampshire Attorney General's communications director.

Investigators are continuing their inquiries on Friday and throughout this weekend.

Anyone with information about these events of Nov. 23 was asked to contact the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit at 603-628-8477.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news