More indictments for pair involved in city shooting

Staff reports


More indictments for pair involved in city shooting

Kerry Joseph

Okiemute "Leo" Omatie

DOVER, N.H. - A Dover man indicted last fall in the shooting of another Dover man on Lafayette Street in Rochester last July has been indicted on additional charges in connection with the incident.

Kerry Joseph, 28, of New York Street, is now also formally charged with felony criminal threatening in the July 29 shooting of Okiemute "Leo" Omatie, 19, of Fifth Street, Dover.

Omatie, in an unrelated case, has been indicted in a robbery in Dover in June.

The Rochester shooting occurred between 40 and 42 Lafayette Street when Omatie tried to run away from the armed Joseph and became trapped between the two buildings.

Omatie, who was shot in the chest, is recovering from the injuries while awaiting his trial.

Omatie has said he and Joseph did not get along, because Joseph thought he had disrespected him at some point in their past.

Joseph was tracked to Rhode Island and arrested by U.S. Marshals in August.

The attempted murder charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The criminal threatening charge could draw Joseph 10-20 years.

Meanwhile, Omatie's indictment is on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery in the June incident. He could face three and a half to seven years in prison if convicted.

The Strafford County grand jury indictments were handed down March 19 and released today.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt, only that enough evidence has been presented to warrant a trial.