A Haverhill man was sentenced to 7 to 10 years in state prison today for shooting a 25-year-old Haverhill man at a Lake Street home on last February. A jury found Ross Tucker, 23, guilty of involuntary manslaughter on January 23, 2017 following a four day trial. Judge James Lang imposed the sentence the afternoon in Salem Superior Court.
At trial, Essex Assistant District Attorney Ashlee Logan introduced evidence that proved that on February 1, 2016, the defendant was with several friends at a Lake Street home where they were drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. The defendant shot Eric Benedict in the face after pulling the trigger on what he believed was an unloaded gun.
In her sentencing argument, ADA Logan stated, “He knowingly pointed the gun at the victim’s head with no regard for whether it was loaded. Coupled with his use of alcohol and marijuana that night, this was extreme reckless conduct.”
ADA Logan was assisted by Essex Assistant District Attorney James Gubitose. ADAs Logan and Gubitose thanked Haverhill Police Detective Glen Fogarty for his work on the case.
“While the defendant did not intend to kill the victim, his reckless conduct, nevertheless, resulted in the senseless death of a young man,” Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said. “It cannot be overstated the danger posed by firearms and one careless act can be tragic.”
The defendant was represented by Attorney Scott Gleason
