The man and woman slain in a parking lot in downtown Nashua, New Hampshire on Friday were identified by authorities Saturday.
Matthew Champagne, 44, of Manchester, New Hampshire, and Patricia Swett, 45, of Nashua, were identified to the public as the man and woman fatally shot in a parking lot on Maple Street late Friday, according to a statement from New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella and Nashua Police Chief Kevin Rourke.
Autopsies were also completed Saturday on the bodies of Champagne and Swett by Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Mitchell Weinberg. He determined they both died from multiple gunshot wounds and their manner of death was homicide, the statement said.
Police responded to calls about gunshots in the area of the Maple Street parking lot around 10:30 p.m. Friday. When officers arrived, they found Champagne and Swett dead from what appeared to be gunshot wounds, according to the statement.
Victor Rivera, 47, of Nashua, was arrested earlier Saturday on two counts of second-degree murder for knowingly causing the deaths of Champagne and Swett by shooting them with a firearm and, alternatively, on two counts of second-degree murder for recklessly causing their deaths under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life by shooting them with a firearm, the statement said.
Rivera is expected to be arraigned in Hillsborough County Superior Court on Monday, Oct. 2, according to the statement.
