Man Shot, Woman Stabbed In Unrelated Taunton Homicides
TAUNTON (CBS) -- The Bristol County District Attorney's office said Tuesday morning that the two deaths being investigated at two separate locations in Taunton were unrelated.
Police were investigating the shooting death of 23-year-old Dominique Scott in an apartment complex on Hart Street, as well as the stabbing death of 23-year-old Vanessa Courtney on Morton Street. Both were Taunton residents.
Taunton Police responded to reports of a shooting at the Chateau Estates apartment complex around 8:30 p.m. Monday. Upon arrival, police found the occupant of the apartment, 24-year-old Nicholas Hoard, waiting for them on a balcony.
Inside, they found Scott shot dead.
Hoard told police that he had opened his apartment door after hearing knocking, and two masked, armed men then forced themselves inside. Hoard said one man held him at gunpoint while the other, later identified as the deceased Scott, rummaged through his apartment.
It was then, Hoard told police, that he was able to disarm the suspect holding him. When Scott arrived to respond to the commotion, drawing his firearm, Hoard shot him one time. The second suspect fled while Hoard called 911.
Hoard continues to be questioned by police and prosecutors. Police said he does not face any criminal charges at this time in relation to this incident.
"It's scary, because I live here," said neighbor Vanessa DeSilva. "I want my environment to be safe."
Neighbor Alex Yaskovich said Hoard had lived there over a year, and there had never been any problems.
"It's stange," said Yaskovich.
The second home invasion suspect is still being sought, and police said the investigation remains ongoing.
In the other investigation, 23-year-old Vanessa Courtney was found stabbed or slashed to death three miles away on Morton Street.
A makeshift memorial was set up for Courtney by neighbors, one of whom said Courtney used to cut his hair, and that he would fix her car.
Police responded to a 911 call around 5:47 p.m. Monday from a woman who said she found her girlfriend dead upon returning from work. Police arrived and found Courtney dead, and ruled the investigation a homicide.
Taunton Police, Massachusetts State Police Detectives , and Homicide Unit prosecutors are investigating the Morton Street murder.
The Bristol DA's office said the investigation is in its early stages and very active. No further information was available.
