A 33-year-old Fairhaven man has been charged with first-degree murder after police say he fatally shot a man in Mattapoisett, then led officers on a motor vehicle chase that ended in Marion. Nicholas Bottella pleaded not guilty, was held without bail, and is s
When the shooting was reported around 3 p.m. on Harbor Road in Mattapoisett on Tuesday, police say the danger didn’t end at the driveway where a 57-year-old man was found with multiple gunshot wounds.
Plymouth County prosecutors allege that Nicholas Bottella, a 33-year-old man from Fairhaven, fatally shot James Rizza in Mattapoisett before refusing to stop for police and leading them on a chase through Marion.
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.
Mattapoisett Police received the initial report of a shooting at a residence on Tuesday afternoon. Officers responded to the scene on Harbor Road and found Rizza severely injured on his driveway with multiple gunshot wounds. First responders transported him to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
A witness told police that a man with a red vehicle was involved. Officers spotted a red car matching the description at a nearby intersection and attempted a motor vehicle stop. Prosecutors say Bottella—later identified as the driver—refused to stop.
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. investigators found that Bottella was involved in a neighbor dispute with Rizza about a year before the fatal shooting.
Prosecutors say the chase ended near Front Street in the next town over, Marion. Bottella is scheduled to next appear in court on July 31 for a probable cause hearing.
Fairhaven Mattapoisett Marion Nicholas Bottella James Rizza first-degree murder charge police chase Wareham District Court Plymouth County prosecutors Massachusetts State Police