In the winter chill of January 16, 2024, the life of 19-year-old Zackary Sullivan, a White male from Concord, New Hampshire, was tragically cut short. That Tuesday evening, Zackary was a passenger in a pickup truck being driven by his brother, Rory Sullivan, on Garvins Falls Road. Also in the vehicle was their half-brother, 32-year-old Jesse James Sullivan. The three were reportedly on their way to a snow plowing job.
In a sudden, violent turn of events, a loud "pop" echoed inside the truck's cabin. Rory looked over to see his younger brother, Zackary, slump over in the passenger seat.
From the backseat, Jesse had allegedly shot Zackary in the back of the neck at point-blank range. When a frantic Rory demanded to know what he had done, Jesse reportedly replied, "uh, he's just sleeping bro," before fleeing the truck. Rory then drove to a nearby Dunkin' Donuts on Manchester Street and called the police. Emergency responders arrived around 7:10 p.m. to find Zackary on the ground outside the truck. He was rushed to Concord Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy later confirmed that Zackary Sullivan's death was a homicide caused by a single gunshot wound to the neck.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on Jesse James Sullivan as the primary suspect. Authorities believe the motive for the killing stemmed from Jesse's belief that Zackary had informed on him to Concord police in a separate, unrelated investigation. Jesse was apprehended hours after the shooting on unrelated charges and was later formally arrested in February in connection with his half-brother's death. A grand jury has since indicted Jesse on charges of first-degree murder, an alternative count of second-degree murder, falsifying physical evidence for allegedly discarding the handgun used in the shooting, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and being an armed career criminal. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his trial is scheduled for June 2025.
Zackary was remembered as a hardworking and ambitious young man who had graduated high school a year early. He had a passion for auto mechanics and had recently launched his own mobile auto detailing business, Superb Auto Detailing, which he was expanding into a physical storefront. Known for his willingness to help family and friends, his untimely death has left his loved ones seeking justice.
