Crime & Safety
Sandown Man Shot In The Head At Lobster Claw II Restaurant In Derry
Update: Autopsy reveals John Kratz Jr., 64 died of a gunshot wound to the head and was a homicide. John Katz, 27 is held without bail
DERRY, NH — Derry Police, fire, and EMS responded to a report of a gunshot victim at the Lobster Claw II restaurant on South Main Street Wednesday.
After the scene was secured by police, fire crews, stationed just yards from the scene, began treating a man with a gunshot wound and rushed him to the Elliot Hospital in Manchester just before 6 p.m.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and Derry Police Chief George Feole said the man transported to the hospital was John Kratz Jr., 64, of Sandown, and he died from injuries sustained during the shooting.
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John Kratz, 27, of Candia, was arrested and accused of murdering John Kratz Jr.
At around 5:45 p.m., authorities said Derry police responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting at the restaurant. Upon arrival, they found John Kratz Jr. suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to the Elliot Hospital in Manchester, where he died.
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After investigating the incident, a warrant was issued for John Kratz on a second-degree murder charge, for knowingly causing the death of John Kratz Jr. by shooting him with a gun, officials said.
Michael Garrity from the attorney general's office verified John Kratz Jr. was the uncle of John Kratz.
A BOLO (Be-on-the Lookout) was issued for the man identified by the police as John Kratz, 27, of Candia, who was driving a silver Cadillac STS. After several hours, the vehicle and suspect as located. After a short pursuit, he was taken into custody at gunpoint in North Hampton.
An autopsy was been completed on the body of John Kratz, Jr., 64 on Thursday. Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Mitchell Weinberg. Dr. Weinberg concluded that the cause of Mr. Kratz, Jr.’s death was a gunshot wound to the head and the manner of his death was homicide.
John Kratz, 27 was arraigned in Rockingham County Superior Court on a charge of Second Degree Murder for knowingly causing the death of John Kratz Jr. by shooting him in the head with a gun. He was held without bail, and he retains the right to request a bail hearing at a later date. A later status hearing will be scheduled by the Court in the ordinary course of scheduling.
New Hampshire Patch will update as additional information becomes available.
©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news
