Fairhaven man indicted for murder of Mattapoisett man, weapons charges

BROCKTON – Nicholas Botella, a 33-year-old Fairhaven man who was arrested in July in connection to a fatal shooting of a Mattapoisett man, has been indicted on six charges including murder. 

A Plymouth County grand jury indicted Bottella on Friday, Oct. 2 on one count of murder, two counts of carrying a firearm without a license, and one count each of carrying a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.

Mattapoisett police responded to reports of a shooting June 30 around 3 p.m. and found 57-year-old James Rizza severely injured in his driveway. He was transported to an area hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and lifesaving measures were attempted before he was pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m. 

A witness who had reported the shooting told a 911 dispatcher a man driving a red car was involved in the incident. Police found a vehicle matching the initial description  at a nearby intersection and tried to stop it. 

Officials stated Bottella, who was driving the red sedan, refused to stop and fled from the officers. Mattapoisett police report chasing him into Marion and stopping him near Front Street, where multiple cruisers boxed him in. 

Investigators with Massachusetts State Police and local law enforcement discovered the two men had been neighbors a year before and Bottella was aggressive towards Rizza during a dispute. 

Botella will be arraigned in Brockton Superior Court at a later date.