'You wanted to execute me in front of my family; you are no man, you are a coward'

Kyvle Violette, left, gives his daughter a hug and his longtime girlfriend makes her victim's statement to the court; at right, Jason Levesque escorted out of the courtroom at the close of his sentencing hearing. (Rochester Voice photos)

DOVER - Kyle Violette, the Rochester man who suffered devastating injury when shot by his neighbor six times during a dispute over snowplowing last year, has remained reclusive and afraid to leave his home, his longtime girlfriend said during an April trial.

But during the sentencing of 45-year-old Jason Levesque on Monday an obviously distraught Violette fought back his emotions, strode to the podium inside Courtroom 1 at Strafford Superior Court, and spoke directly to the man who pumped six bullets in him, mostly in the back as he retreated toward his home after Levesque brandished a pistol.

"You planned to kill me that night," Violette said, choking up with emotion as he looked directly at Levesque. "You wanted to execute me in front of my family. It was a miracle I survived. You are no man; you are a coward."

The shooting occurred in the area of 41-43 Summer St., Rochester, where the two families shared a duplex.

Around 10:20 p.m. on April 4, 2024, as Levesque was plowing his driveway, Violette came out and warned him not to plow any snow on his driveway and the dispute ensued.

As the argument escalated, Levesque brandished a Glock pistol and Violette retreated toward his home when he was shot in his jaw. Then, as he lay on the ground prone, trying to crawl to safety Leveque advanced toward him and shot him five more times, mostly in the back.

Violette's daughter was unable to speak but had a friend read her victim statement for her.

"Having to see my dad get shot over and over again on those videos was horrible," her statement read. "I want a sentence that brings justice."

In the end Strafford Superior Court Judge Andrew B. Livernois sentenced Levesque to 10-20 years in state prison.

During the April trial the jury found Levesque guilty of first-degree assault but innocent of attempted murder, which could have resulted in a life sentence.

The courtroom seemed to have more law enforcement on hand than normal as the tension between the parties was palpable.

As Levesque left the courtroom, handcuffed in jail garb and escorted by multiple sheriff's deputies, someone in the gallery yelled out, "Have a nice 10 years."