On February 3, 2023, the life of Christopher David Veliz, a 40-year-old Caucasian male, was tragically cut short. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Christopher had become a resident of Berlin, New Hampshire. He was a father to four children and was known by family and friends for his love of working on cars, watching movies, and making people laugh.
He had a creative side, with a gift for singing and drawing, and cherished spending time with his partner and children at the local park.
The morning of that cold Friday in February unfolded into violence on Sullivan Street in Berlin. Following a report of shots fired, police arrived at an apartment building to find Christopher Veliz outside, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. The investigation into his death, which was ruled a homicide, quickly focused on a dispute between neighbors. The New Hampshire Attorney General's office announced that an arrest had been made in connection with the fatal shooting.
The suspect was identified as Nomar Ramos-Rivera, age 44, who lived in the same apartment building as Veliz. He was arrested and subsequently charged with one count of second-degree murder for Veliz's death. In addition to the murder charge, Ramos-Rivera faced two counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon. These latter charges stemmed from allegations that he had recklessly fired a firearm into a vehicle that was occupied by two minors.
In the months that followed, the case proceeded through the legal system. The Coös County Grand Jury indicted Nomar Ramos-Rivera on the charges of second-degree murder and reckless conduct. As the case went to trial, the defense argued that Ramos-Rivera had acted in self-defense. Ultimately, a jury deliberated on the evidence presented. After weighing the testimony, the jury found Nomar Ramos-Rivera not guilty of second-degree murder and the two associated charges of reckless conduct, acquitting him of all charges related to the death of his neighbor.
