On a summer evening in Rumney, New Hampshire, a dispute between two men culminated in the death of 48-year-old David Landseadel on June 29, 2014. Landseadel, a local chiropractor, was fatally shot by Edward Healey, then 61, during a physical altercation near Stinson Lake. The incident was the tragic end to a history of acrimony between the two men, who were neighbors and shared access to a community dock.
The conflict between Landseadel and Healey had reportedly been simmering for at
least a year prior to the fatal encounter. A previous altercation in the summer of 2013 had also turned physical. On the day of the shooting, both men had been on the lake with their respective wives. Landseadel had been kayaking while Healey was on his sailboat. Both men had consumed alcohol, with a later report indicating Landseadel's blood alcohol content was. 20, more than twice the legal limit.
The final confrontation occurred on a staircase landing leading down to the shared dock. According to reports from the New Hampshire Attorney General's office, an altercation began when Landseadel was waiting for Healey. Healey stated that Landseadel began punching him repeatedly. Fearing for his life, Healey, who had a valid concealed carry permit and regularly carried a firearm, reached into his cooler, retrieved his. 38 caliber handgun, and fired a single shot. The bullet struck Landseadel in the head, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following an investigation into the shooting, the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office announced in October 2014 that no criminal charges would be filed against Edward Healey. The decision was based on the conclusion that the state would be unable to disprove Healey's claim of self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt. While the report noted some inconsistencies in the accounts provided by Healey and his wife, who was the only other witness, the evidence supported the claim that Healey acted in self-defense during the physical assault.
