Fairhaven man held without bail; District Attorney identifies victim in fatal shooting

WAREHAM – A Fairhaven man was arraigned today on charges that he shot and killed another man, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz and Mattapoisett Police Chief Jason King have announced.

33-year-old Nicholas Bottella was held without bail following his arraignment in Wareham
District Court. Bottella pleaded not guilty to one count each of First-Degree Murder, Discharge of a Firearm, Carrying a Firearm without a License, Possession of Ammunition without a Firearm identification Card, Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Trespass, Failure to Stop for Police, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Speeding, Failure to Stop/Yield and a Marked Lanes Violation

Yesterday afternoon, Mattapoisett Police received reports of a shooting at a residence that had occurred at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Harbor Road HB near Harbor Beach. The victim, identified as 57-year-old James Rizza, was found severely injured on his driveway by Mattapoisett Police before being transported to an area hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. Life-saving measures were attempted prior to Rizza being pronounced dead at about 3:40 p.m.

A witness who initially alerted law enforcement of the shooting told 911 that a man with a red vehicle was involved in the incident. Responding officers observed a red vehicle matching the initial description provided to dispatchers at a nearby intersection and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop. The driver of the red sedan, later identified as Bottella, refused to stop and led law enforcement on a motor vehicle pursuit that ended near Front Street in Marion when the vehicle was boxed in by Mattapoisett Police cruisers.

Bottella was placed under arrest and a passenger in his vehicle was taken to the Mattapoisett Police Department for questioning.

Through further investigation, investigators with Massachusetts State Police and local law enforcement determined Bottella was involved in a neighborly dispute with Rizza about a year prior to the fatal shooting.

Bottella is scheduled to next appear in court on July 31 for a probable cause hearing.