In a tragic turn of events on a Sunday afternoon in Keene, New Hampshire, 22-year-old Holden Guyette, a Caucasian male, lost his life in his own home. On May 13, 2018, what began as a demonstration of firearm safety among roommates ended in a fatal shooting that would lead to a manslaughter charge. The incident unfolded shortly before 1 p.m. at a residence on Washington Street where Guyette lived with his roommate, 25-year-old Adam Anderson, and Guyette's sister, who was dating Anderson.
The afternoon took a grim turn when Anderson, who had been handling firearms since his childhood, decided to show Guyette a safer way to carry a 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol. Believing the handgun to be unloaded, Anderson aimed it at Guyette and pulled the trigger. A single shot was fired, striking Guyette in the chest. According to a police affidavit, Anderson initially claimed he was unaware that he had shot his roommate until he saw the blood and promptly called 911.
Emergency services were dispatched to the apartment following a report of an accidental shooting. First responders found Guyette with a serious gunshot wound to his torso. He was rushed to the nearby Cheshire Medical Center for immediate treatment. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was then airlifted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Holden Guyette did not survive his injuries.
In the wake of the fatal shooting, Adam Anderson was taken into custody by the Keene Police Department. He was subsequently arrested and charged with manslaughter, with authorities alleging that he recklessly caused Guyette's death by failing to ensure the handgun was unloaded before handling it in a dangerous manner. Anderson was held in lieu of bail and was scheduled for arraignment in Cheshire Superior Court the following Monday. The case was then assigned to the public defender's office. The victim's sister, Tia Guyette, was present in the apartment at the time of the shooting and witnessed the tragic event.
