MANCHESTER, NH — The NH Attorney General’s office is investigating a shooting death they’ve classified as murder of a woman out walking on Ray Street in the city’s North End, reported at about 9 p.m. Sunday.
The NH Union Leader reports the victim of the shooting was Denise Robert, 62, of Bedford, who was a longtime employee of the newspaper. Robert was out walking her dog when she was shot, according to Robert’s brother, Tom Robert, a former city alderman.
“Denise dedicated her life to the Neighborhood News and New Hampshire Union Leader and left an indelible contribution,” said Steve Pare, advertising manager at the Union Leader.
“No one cared more about Neighborhood News and the New Hampshire Union Leader than Denise Robert. She worked tirelessly and cared deeply about her customers and co-workers. Her memory will live on and she’ll be deeply missed but never forgotten,” Pare said.
⇒Follow up: MPD Stepping up patrols following Ray Street shooting
Manchester Police initially responded to a call for a shooting in the area of Ray and Carpenter streets on Aug. 30. The state medical examiner arrived after reports that a female victim had succumbed to her injuries.
Early Monday morning Manchester Police Lt. Brian O’Keefe advised that questions were being referred to the Assistant Attorney General Geoff Ward.
An area of Ray Street was cordoned off with yellow crime tape extending from in front of 313 Ray St. to the corner of Carpenter Street, and the perimeter of Ray Street.
A witness in the neighborhood told the Union Leader that she noticed a “mid-sized pickup truck” speed east on Carpenter and turn onto Union Street without stopping just before 9 p.m.
After she got home and learned there had been a shooting on Ray Street, she returned to the scene to speak with police about what she had seen.
Robert’s family said they wanted to circulate the information to aid authorities in investigating what appears may have been a random shooting.
A joint news conference at MPD headquarters with the AG’s office is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story mistakenly reported that Robert was walking a dog at the time she was murdered. That was misinformation, according to Associate Attorney General Jane Young.
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