Suspects Plead Not Guilty: Shooting in Wal-Mart Lot Hospitalizes Victim

By Dylan Marsh
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CLAREMONT — Three men pleaded not guilty on Thursday after a shooting incident in Claremont left a victim hospitalized.

At roughly 2:45pm on October 5, 2022, members of the Claremont Police Department responded to reports of gunfire in the parking lot of Wal-Mart at 14 Bowen Street. Reportedly, a witness called stating that she had seen that “two vehicles were shooting at each other.” She also claimed that one of the vehicles was “occupied by three males and that they had a large gun”, according to an affidavit. After responding units arrived on the scene the witness claimed to have seen one of the assailants exit their car and approach the victim’s vehicle, physically assaulting the victim from outside of the car.

Moments later, the sound of at least one gunshot rang out in the parking lot, and a short time later both vehicles and their occupants left the lot. The communications center received the registration information from both of the vehicles and were able to send a “Be on The Lookout” for the cars.

Police from surrounding jurisdictions aided the Claremont Police Department, and a State Trooper located, and followed, the assailants until additional police were able to arrive. The vehicle was then pulled over on Route 12 going toward Charlestown. Each of the five occupants, three adults and two juveniles, were removed without incident from the vehicle.

Police were able to search the vehicle, along with the occupants, and located at least two firearms in the trunk of the car. A search of the individuals resulted in finding over $2,500 total in cash on the two juveniles, along with a cell phone that had a map with a destination set on it.

At around 4:24pm, Claremont Safety Services arrived at a Davis Street location in regard to a young male suffering from two gunshot wounds to his leg. The 20-year-old male was ultimately transported to Valley Regional Hospital as a result of the wounds. Police located the vehicle the victim had been in and discovered a large amount of blood in the passenger seat. Both the vehicle and the Davis Street location were seized so that a search warrant could be conducted.

According to the affidavit, Police interviewed 20-year-old Denzil Bruce later that night, during which time Bruce stated that the group had driven from Keene with the intention of robbing the victim of marijuana. After arriving in Claremont, the group met the victim at the Wal-Mart parking lot, and Bruce approached the vehicle with an exposed loaded handgun. He claims to have gotten in the backseat of the car and informed the driver, and the shooting victim, that he had a gun. Bruce then claims that the victim reached for the gun, and, in a struggle, the gun was discharged, resulting in the victim being shot.

While the claims of other involved participants vary, each alleges that Bruce had shot the victim before the car began to reverse and Bruce exited the vehicle. When police interviewed 18-year-old Emil Ortiz he claimed that the group had driven to Claremont to “do something stupid to make money” and that when they arrived at the victim’s car, he and the other assailants got out and surrounded the car with Bruce approaching the passenger door, opening it and shooting the victim.

The victim, who was interviewed at Valley Regional Hospital, claims that he and his girlfriend had gone to Wal-Mart on an errand and had been sitting in the car when the assailants arrived. He claimed to only know three and declined to identify one of them. He stated that one male approached the driver side of the vehicle with a rifle, and that another had gotten into the back seat. After getting in the back seat, the male demanded they exit the vehicle, at which time the driver put the car in reverse and the pair attempted to push the assailant out of the vehicle. This is when the gun was fired.

According to Claremont Police Chief Brent Wilmot, the parties involved knew each other prior to the event. After their arraignment the three men have continued to be held by the state. Xzavier Gibeau,18, of Troy, NH has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery as well as Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Threatening with a Deadly Weapon. Bruce, of Keene, NH has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Threatening with a Deadly Weapon, First Degree Assault, and Reckless Conduct with a Deadly Weapon. Emil Ortiz of Keene, NH has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Threatening with a Deadly Weapon

Each of the defendants are awaiting trial and are only alleged to have committed the crimes listed above. In a press release filed by the Claremont Police Department, they noted and thanked the New Hampshire State Police, Charlestown Police, Cornish Police, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sullivan County Attorney’s office for their collective assistance.