A New Ipswich man charged in connection with a drive-by shooting into an occupied apartment building in Jaffrey is seeking a new bail hearing.
According to reporting by the Keene Sentinel, Shayne Jennings, 39, of New Ipswich, has filed a request at the Cheshire County Superior Court, seeking to reopen the issue of Jennings being held in preventive custody until his trial.
There was a motion hearing held at the Cheshire County Superior Court on Monday on the request, and the request was taken under advisement. A review hearing is scheduled for May 19.
Jennings is charged with felonious use of a firearm, reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, two counts of criminal threatening with a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The charges all relate to an incident on Dec. 17, where Jennings and two other men allegedly drove by a multifamily apartment building on Cross Street in Jaffrey, firing at least 11 shots, which struck the building, with some penetrating into an occupied apartment. Shots were reported to come close to at least two people — one who was standing on the porch and had rounds impact near where they had been standing, and a person who was sleeping in a bedroom where a round entered the bedroom and struck the window frame above their bed. There were no injuries reported.
Also charged in the crime were John Pereira of Exeter and Nathan Pereira of Rindge.
Based on witness descriptions of the vehicle, police tracked video footage of a silver Toyota Camry to the Golden Wok restaurant in Jaffrey shortly before the shooting, and observed three people inside. Police were able to identify one of the individuals as Nathan Pereira based on a receipt from the restaurant.
According to a police affidavit filed by Det. Joseph Hileman, in an interview with police Nathan Pereira allegedly told police the intended target of the shooting was a man who was having an affair with his mother, and that the shooting was intended as a way of “letting off stress.” The alleged target of the shooting was not present when the shots were fired, but later told police in an interview that John Pereira had allegedly previously threatened him.
Nathan Pereira told police that Jennings possessed the firearm and fired the shots, according to the affidavit.
John Pereira has been charged with two counts of criminal threatening with a firearm, reckless conduct with a deadly weapon and witness tampering. He was indicted on those charges on April 13. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Cheshire Superior Court on May 7 at 1 p.m.