In the cold, early morning hours of January 28, 2023, the life of Timothy Pouliot, a 24-year-old White male from Manchester, New Hampshire, was tragically cut short. The events that led to his death began inside The Goat Bar and Grill on Old Granite Street. An argument sparked between Pouliot's group of friends and another group that included John Delee, a 22-year-old from Salem. Tensions reportedly flared after someone with Pouliot got too close to a woman in Delee's party.
Friends later reported that Pouliot, who had a background as a fighter, claimed he could knock Delee out with a single punch. In response, Delee allegedly revealed he was armed, stating he had "protection."
The conflict escalated within the confines of the bar. At one point, surveillance footage captured Delee shoving Pouliot before bouncers intervened. A short time later, one of Pouliot's friends punched Delee, and a scuffle ensued on the floor. Security staff again stepped in, escorting Delee from the establishment. The verbal sparring continued, and eventually, both groups made their way outside into the street. It was there, on the pavement of Old Granite Street, that the fatal confrontation occurred. In an encounter captured on video and widely circulated on social media, Pouliot was seen throwing a punch at Delee. Immediately following the punch, Delee pulled out a handgun and fired multiple times, striking Pouliot, who collapsed to the ground.
Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly before 1 a.m. to find Timothy Pouliot suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner was homicide. The Manchester Police Department quickly identified John Delee as the suspect, and he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and reckless conduct.
During the subsequent legal proceedings, Delee's defense team argued that he had acted in self-defense. However, after a week-long trial in late 2023, a jury found John Delee guilty on two counts of second-degree murder and one count of reckless conduct. In March 2024, a judge sentenced Delee to a term of 27 years to life in the New Hampshire State Prison for the murder, with an additional consecutive sentence for the reckless conduct charge. During the sentencing, the judge characterized Delee as a "bully hiding behind a gun." Pouliot was remembered by his family as a loving father to his young daughter, a positive soul, and a talented taekwondo practitioner.
