LONDONDERRY, N.H. (WHDH) – Police have determined the cause and manner of death of a suspect in a Londonderry shooting and standoff, saying the incident was likely the result of the supsect’s significant mental health issues.
According to police, 71-year-old Richard Verville died at a hospital in Massachusetts last week.
Police said Verville shot City Fuel service technician Daniel Rabideau, 59, in the head, killing him.
According to police, physical evidence shows Verville shot Rabideau from behind while Rabideau was working on the heating system.
Police said they found Rabideau’s body when they were sent to the house on a well-being check. Rabideau had been at the house for a scheduled annual tune-up of the heating system.
Police said after shooting Rabideau, Verville went to another part of the home and shot himself. The cause of death was determined to be a single gunshot wound to the head and his manner of death was determined to be a suicide.
Police said Verville refused to come out of the home, even after police used a bullhorn and sent a robot into the house to try and coax him out. Several residents were first asked to stay in their homes and were later evacuated during the standoff. Nearby schools were also told to keep students inside until the standoff was over.
Neighbors described Verville as strange and paranoid. Some residents showed 7News a letter of introduction that he handed out to neighbors when he moved in four years ago, explaining that he was not a terrorist. Residents said he had run-ins with several of them over the years.
Rabideau’s family said he never mentioned any issue with Verville or any other customers. They are now wondering why Verville decided to kill him when he was just doing his job. There is no word on a motive at this time but prosecutors said Verville was suffering from significant mental health issues.
“It’s just a tragedy because mental illness is a serious thing and people up here knew this guy had serious issues and nothing was done,” said Rabideau’s stepdaughter, Kim Mattucci.
Police said the incident appears to have been the results of Verville’s “significant mental health issues.”
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