Local News
Officials say the 33-year-old fatally shot a man in Mattapoisett on Tuesday before leading police on a chase.
Plymouth County prosecutors charged a 33-year-old Fairhaven man with first-degree murder, alleging he fatally shot another man in Mattapoisett before leading police on a chase through Marion.
According to the Plymouth District Attorney’s Office, Nicholas Bottella pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Wareham District Court to 10 charges, including first-degree murder, discharging a firearm without a license, and failing to stop for police. A judge ordered him held without bail.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mattapoisett Police received reports of a shooting at a residence that happened around 3 p.m. on Harbor Road HB.
Police found 57-year-old James Rizza severely injured on his driveway with multiple gunshot wounds. First responders transported Rizza to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
A witness told police that a man with a red vehicle was involved in the shooting. Responding officers saw a red car matching the initial description at a nearby intersection and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop.
However, the driver of the red sedan, later identified as Bottella, allegedly refused to stop. Prosecutors say Bottella led police on a motor vehicle chase that ended near Front Street in the next town over, Marion.
Police arrested Bottella and took a passenger from his vehicle to the Mattapoisett Police Department for questioning.
Through further investigation by the Massachusetts State Police and local law enforcement, they found out that Bottella was involved in a neighbor dispute with Rizza about a year before the fatal shooting.
Bottella is scheduled to next appear in court on July 31 for a probable cause hearing.
Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.
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