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Andover father killed in front of son, police looking for suspect

ANDOVER – A waterside community is in shock this holiday weekend, after a verbal altercation between two men lead to a deadly shooting. Residents on Lakes...
ANDOVER - A waterside community is in shock this holiday weekend, after a verbal altercation between two men lead to a deadly shooting.

Residents on Lakeside Drive who witnessed the argument and the violence said a father was gunned down in front of his young son.

Andover father killed in front of son, police looking for suspect

Family members identified the victim as 38-year-old Jason Marchand.

According to State Police, eyewitness accounts, and relatives,  at approximately 9:15 p.m. Friday, 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 back yard – the motorcyclist re-appeared and opened fire on Marchard.

Eyewitnesses say Marchand was hit multiple times in the chest.  The motorcyclist sped off again.

Marchand graduated from Manchester High and had a long-time girlfriend, his high-school sweetheart,  who lived with him at the Lakeside Dr. property.  Suzzane Wich said she was not home at the time of incident because Marchand encouraged her “to have a night out with her girlfriends”

“I got a call last night that he had been shot, when I got to the hospital he was gone,” Wich said between tears.  State Police say Marchand was pronounced dead at Windham Hospital.

Neighbors could not provide too many details about the suspect to authorities because he was a wearing a helmet with a face shield-- but he is thought to be in his twenties, he was operating a blue and white sport-type motorcycle, and in a press release, State Police report he is thought to be from the area.

Anyone who may have information regarding this incident, or the male suspect is asked to contact Eastern District Major Crime at (860) 896 3230 or Troop K at (860) 465-5411.

All calls will be kept confidential.

Marchard was a driver for Dari Farms in Tolland.

Family and neighbors say Marchard lived for his children and enjoyed fishing and cooking catfish.

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