Crime & Safety
Nashua Woman, Manchester Man Identified As Victims Fatally Shot
Matthew Champagne, 44 of Manchester, and Patricia Swett, 45 of Nashua were shot multiple times in a double homicide in Nashua.
NASHUA, NH — Nashua Police, Fire, and AMR Ambulance responded to a call of after two people were shot in the area of 243 Main St. just after 10:30 p.m. Friday.
Fire and AMR were asked to stage until police secured the scene, which was quickly located on Maple Avenue, which is directly behind the Main Street address. According to sources, a man and a woman were found with what appeared to be fatal gunshot wounds to the head.
The victims were pronounced deceased and police secured the area with crime scene tape and cleared fire and AMR. Several witnesses indicated they heard multiple gunshots and saw a car speeding away and allegedly turning onto West Hollis Street.
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Autopsies were completed today on the bodies and the victims have been identified as Patricia Swett, 45 of Nashua, New Hampshire, and Matthew Champagne, 44 of Manchester, New Hampshire.
The autopsies were conducted by Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Mitchell Weinberg. Dr. Weinberg determined that Patricia Swett’s cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, and her manner of death was homicide. Dr. Weinberg further determined that Matthew Champagne’s cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, and his manner of death was homicide.
Find out what's happening in Nashuafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Around 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2023, Nashua police officers responded to calls reporting gunshots in the area of the Maple Street parking lot. Upon arrival, the officer discovered an adult female and an adult male deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
“Victor Rivera, 47, of Nashua, was arrested Saturday for knowingly causing the deaths of the of the two victims by shooting them, and alternatively, for recklessly causing the deaths of the two victims under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life” In a statement released by Michael Garity, NH AG Director Of Communications.
Sources indicate the suspect and victims knew each other and this doesn’t appear to be a random act.
Nashua police and the Attorney General said the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
Rivera is expected to be arraigned Monday in Hillsborough County Superior Court-Southern District in Nashua.
©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news
