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Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Central Mass. man now facing manslaughter charge in connection with brother's death
A 33-year-old man accused of shooting his brother in a Northbridge home now faces a manslaughter charge, court records show. Christopher Lacour was previously charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the death of his brother, Jonathan, 36. The shooting appeared to be an accident, according to court documents. Police were called to 63 Legion Way at around 11:02 p.m. on May 21. Arriving officers found Jonathan Lacour lying face up on the floor between the living room and the kitchen, covered in blood, a police report filed in Uxbridge District Court reads. Officers found a single shell casing from a Ruger American 9mm semi-automatic handgun at the scene. Jonathan Lacour was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where he was pronounced dead. During an interview with police, Christopher Lacour acknowledged he pulled the trigger on the gun that ultimately killed his brother, the report reads. Christopher Lacour pleaded not guilty to the charge during an arraignment in Uxbridge District Court, records show. Judge Gerald Lemire released him on personal recognizance. Lemire previously set a $10,000 bail for Lacour on the assault and battery charge. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for July 16. As Harvard fights Trump admin in court, professors are quietly dropping courses 2 men arrested in connection with shooting near University Park in Worcester Mother dies days after crash in Franklin that killed young daughter PeoplesBank buys naming rights to Hartford arena Thunderbirds, MassMutual partner for 3rd annual Community Caravan Program Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man was drinking from vodka bottle moments before Franklin crash that killed girl, prosecutors say
James Blanchard told police he had two beers while at a landscaping job on Saturday, after working that morning at his job as a mechanic. When he left his landscaping job, he opened a 1.75 liter bottle of Tito's vodka. He began drinking straight out of the bottle and drove home in his truck, prosecutor Christopher Meade said during his arraignment on motor vehicle homicide and other charges in Wrentham District Court on Tuesday. Investigators later found a second, empty 1.75 liter bottle of Tito's in his truck that Blanchard told police was 'from the night before,' Meade said. While driving home around 6:22 p.m. Saturday, Blanchard crashed into a Honda Accord carrying a family of four on Grove Street in Franklin, Meade said. They were going to Blackstone for a family birthday party. A 5-year-old girl, who has not been identified, died following the crash, Meade said. Her mother and brother were taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Her father, the driver of the Honda, was treated and released. Blanchard, 21, of Franklin, was ordered held on $250,000 cash bail following his arraignment Tuesday, with conditions for his release including that he not drive, be alcohol free and submit to alcohol testing. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. He is charged with motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently and under the influence of alcohol, three counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing serious bodily injury, negligent driving, driving a motor vehicle with an open container of alcohol, and marked lanes violation, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey. Prosecutors said Blanchard does not have a prior criminal record. His driving record shows several speeding infractions, an open container violation, and a couple of previous surchargeable accidents, Meade said. Defense attorney Timothy Flaherty asked the court to impose a lesser amount of $10,000 cash bail, with conditions for his release to include electronic monitoring and that he enter an alcohol rehabilitation center. 'It's probably the right place for this young man at this time,' Flaherty said. 'It's a significant case but significant penalties. But I can tell the court that this young man is not a risk of flight.' Judge Thomas Finigan, citing the severity of the case and the potential for additional charges given the condition of the other passengers, set bail at $250,000, the amount requested by prosecutors. He said he'd revisit the bail amount if the case remains in the district court. Around 6:22 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash at 76 Grove St. When officers arrived, they found a truck in the middle of the road, and a Honda Accord off to the side of the road. Emergency crews performed CPR on a woman and young girl who were outside of the car and seriously injured, Meade said. The mother and daughter and two others were all taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where the girl was later pronounced dead. At the scene, Blanchard, the driver of the truck, had blood on his nose, glassy eyes and was slurring his speech, Meade said. Officers noted an odor of alcohol coming from him. 'His eyes were bloodshot, glassy,' Meade said. 'They asked him if he was OK, he told them he was OK.' Blanchard told the officers he was coming from Plainville where he works. He told officers he didn't remember too much of the crash. When asked by responding officers if he had been drinking, Blanchard initially told them he had not. Officers noted two 1.75 liter handles of vodka and beers inside his truck. They asked Blanchard to submit to a portable breath test, to which he agreed, Meade said. His blood alcohol level came back .19, Meade said, more than twice the legal limit for driving in Massachusetts. While the test was being analyzed, Blanchard told police he had a beer earlier in the day. He was placed under arrest and taken by ambulance to Milton Hospital. Meanwhile, the girl's father, the driver of the Honda Accord, told police that he saw Blanchard's truck coming in his lane and tried to avoid being hit by the truck by turning left, but the crash still happened, Meade said. Witnesses driving behind the Honda Accord told police they saw the Honda suddenly jerk to the left and they saw the crash. The next day, around 11:45 a.m. Sunday, Franklin Police detectives interviewed Blanchard, who agreed to speak with them, Meade said. He told investigators he had worked from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday as a mechanic in Plainville and then stopped by a liquor store in Plainville where he bought a 1.75 Liter of Tito's vodka and a beer. He then told police he went to do landscaping, where he had two beers. When he left he opened the bottle of Tito's and began drinking straight out of it and drove home. 'When asked about the 2 bottles of Tito's in the car, he said the empty one was from the night before and the one that was a quarter full of vodka was the bottle he had bought earlier in the day and was drinking before the crash,' Meade said. Investigators are reviewing surveillance videos from area businesses at the time of the crash, Meade said. Blanchard is due back in court on June 24. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man killed in Northbridge shooting identified as suspect's brother
A man killed in a shooting in Northbridge Wednesday night was identified in court documents as Jonathan Lacour, 36. Lacour was killed by his brother, Christopher, 33, in what appeared to be an accidental shooting. Christopher Lacour is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the shooting. Police were called to 63 Legion Way at around 11:02 p.m. Wednesday. Arriving officers found Jonathan Lacour lying face up on the floor between the living room and the kitchen, covered in blood, a police report filed in Uxbridge District Court reads. Officers found a single shell casing from a Ruger American 9mm semi-automatic handgun at the scene. Jonathan Lacour was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where he was pronounced dead. During an interview with police, Christopher Lacour acknowledged he pulled the trigger on the gun that ultimately killed his brother, the report reads. Christopher Lacour was ordered held on $10,000 bail at his arraignment. Trump Commerce boss gets put on blast with 'no pain' tariff claim 'Unlawful and unwarranted': Harvard opens 2nd lawsuit against the Trump admin Mass. State Lottery winner: 1st $1M prize claimed in new game Mass. Senate passes dramatic liquor license overhaul. Will the House pass it? Man killed brother in what appears to be accidental shooting in Northbridge home Read the original article on MassLive.
