On Friday, July 3, around 11:10 p.m. Jason Marchand, 38, was shot in front of his young son.
According to State Police, eyewitness accounts, and relatives, at approximately 9:15 p.m. a man on a motorcycle pulled down a short gravel road that accesses a boat launch and private houses. Marchand reportedly told the motorcyclist to leave the area because the bike was in the way, and he was concerned the tires of the motorcycle would kick up rocks and hit the neighborhood kids–who had gathered to watch amateur fireworks.
Things got heated between the motorcyclist and Marchand, eyewitnesses say there was cursing, the motorcyclist then sped off.
A little over an hour later, Marchand was roasting marshmallows with his son and some neighborhood kids in his backyard when the motorcyclist re-appeared and opened fire on Marchard.
Eyewitnesses say Marchand was hit multiple times in the chest. The motorcyclist sped off again.
Then at the end of August police released an image of the suspected motorcyclist asking for the public’s help at identifying the distinctive motorcycle and clothing.
The suspect was described as a man wearing dark clothing, with red riding gloves, and riding a smaller style red and white dirt bike. A distinctive helmet and shoe style were evident in the photo.
On Tuesday, police arrested Michael R. Fortin, 21, was arrested and charged with murder, two counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree, risk of injury to a minor, carrying a handgun without a permit and carrying a dangerous weapon.
He was held on $400,000 bond and will be arraigned on Wednesday.
