On November 1, 2021, 35-year-old Christopher D. Coletti was fatally shot in Seabrook, New Hampshire. The incident occurred at a residence on Boynton Lane, where Coletti was preparing his truck for a paving job. He was confronted by 37-year-old Garrito Fort, who accused him of scratching his car the previous evening. The confrontation escalated, leading Fort to fire two shots: the first seriously injuring another man present, and the second killing Coletti.
Following the shooting, Fort was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He claimed self-defense, stating that Coletti and the other man threatened him with metal bars and clubs. After a thorough investigation, including the review of surveillance footage, the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office concluded that they could not disprove Fort's self-defense claim beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, no homicide charges were filed against him.
Coletti's family expressed deep frustration and disbelief over the decision not to pursue homicide charges. His mother, Anna Randall, described her son as a caring individual who 'didn't deserve to be gunned down like a rabid animal.' The family questioned the handling of the case and the lack of accountability for Coletti's death.
In October 2023, Fort pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted to confronting Coletti over the alleged car damage and firing the shots that resulted in Coletti's death and the injury of another man. Fort is scheduled for sentencing in January, facing up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
