ANDOVER --The man suspected of shooting a father in front of his young son more than four months ago is now under arrest on several charges related to the incident.
Michael R. Fortin, 21, was taken into custody on counts of murder, reckless endangerment in the first degree, risk of injury to a minor, carrying a handgun without a permit and carrying a dangerous weapon after a deadly dispute on July 3.
Fortin is being held on $400,000 cash bond after an appearance in Rockville Superior Court on Wednesday.
How investigators connected Fortin to the death of Jason Marchand, 38, is unclear as the warrant in this case is sealed. State police credit a picture of a male on a dirt bike in Fortin's arrest. The photo is from an unrelated Fortin case.
"He was named a suspect after tips from the public came in," said Trooper Kelly Grant of the Connecticut State Police.
According to state detectives, eyewitness accounts, and relatives, at approximately 9:15 p.m. on July 3, a man on a dirt bike pulled down a short gravel road that accesses a boat launch and private houses in Andover. Marchand reportedly told the motorcyclist to leave the area because the bike was in the way, and he was concerned the tires of the dirt bike would kick up rocks and hit the neighborhood kids–who had gathered to watch fireworks.
Things got heated between the motorcyclist and Marchand. Eyewitnesses said there was cursing and that 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 mystery man, now said to be Fortin, re-appeared and opened fire.
Eyewitnesses said Marchand was hit multiple times in the chest. The shooter sped off again. Marchand died from his injuries.
News of the shooter's arrest was comforting to Andover residents like Will Parks.
"I'm just glad they got the person who did this. It`s affected the whole neighborhood, you know?" Parks said.
"People were anxious, I think for a while that it didn't seem to be anything going on but I understand that the police were just trying to make sure that everything was proper," said Michael Wallace, who lives nearby.
Another neighbor, John Totri, has displayed a tribute for Marchand since his death.
"You know when a soldier dies or is killed, it's what we do in the military," said Totri, pointing to a pair of boots and a solar light.
The memorial will stay up until Fortin's court appearances end.
"When he's convicted, I'll remove it," said Totri.
Prosecutors argued Fortin was a flight risk, telling the judge that they had proof he intended to leave the country. The Hebron man has two other ongoing cases.
