Joint Fugitive Task Force joins hunt for Joseph

Kerry Joseph

ROCHESTER – The New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force has joined in the hunt for a former Dover, N.H., man being sought in the brazen daytime shooting of a teenager on Lafayette Street earlier this week.

An arrest warrant for Kerry Joseph, 27, with a last known address of New York Street in Dover, but who also has strong ties to Rochester and Milton, was filed Wednesday charging him with felony first-degree assault.

Rochester Police Capt. Gary Boudreau said Joseph’s arrest warrant information has also been forwarded for insertion into the NCIC crime data base, a network that can be accessed by lawmen nationwide 24 hours a day.

Boudreau said Tuesday’s shooting around 11:30 a.m. involved two men who had known each other only briefly, and that the 19-year-old victim is also a resident of Dover but frequents Rochester often.

The victim, who received a single gunshot wound to the chest, continues his recovery at a Portland hospital after being Medflighted there on Tuesday.

Boudreau said police had not recovered the bullet, but knew the location of the projectile. However, he said he could not disclose that location.

Meanwhile, Milton Police Richard Krauss said on Thursday that while his department is coordinating efforts to find Joseph with Rochester PD, he doesn’t believe the suspect has resided in Milton for about two years. Krauss said he believes Joseph only lived in Milton a short time.

Rochester District Court records show two arrests by Milton Police, in 2009 and 2011.

The 2009 charges were simple assault, criminal mischief and filing false information to police. The 2011 charges were simple assault and criminal threatening.

The shooting occurred Tuesday as a single shot rang out around 11:30 a.m. and drew an immediate response from lawmen to the area of 42 Lafayette St., where the 19-year-old sat on the front stoop with a bullet wound to his chest.

The teenager was transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital with injuries that were described as life-threatening and later Medflighted to Portland.

Joseph is described as thin, with shoulder-length dreadlocks. At the time of the shooting he was wearing a gray shirt and long jean-style shorts.

Boudreau said on Thursday police had received numerous tips and were following all plausible leads in an effort to bring the suspect in.

Tipsters should call the Rochester Police Department at 603-330-7128 or they can remain anonymous by calling the Rochester Crimeline at 603-335-6500. All calls to the Rochester Crimeline will remain confidential and rewards are given for information, which leads to arrests. You can also text the Rochester Crimeline at CRIMES (274637) in the body write TEXT4CASH followed by your tip.