Rochester man indicted in Friendly's shooting death from last June

Billy Jo Ahearn; inset her accused killer Justin Belanger

DOVER - A Rochester man has been indicted on second degree murder charges in last June's shooting death of a woman near Friendly's on South Main Street.

Justin Belanger, 18, of 50 Lafayette St., was formally charged with two alternative counts of second degree murder: one for knowingly causing the death of Ahearn, 24, by shooting her with a pistol; and another for recklessly causing her death, manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life, by shooting her with a pistol.

An additional indictment alleges Belanger falsified physical evidence in that he "did conceal the handgun used in that shooting under a nearby house porch area, with a purpose to impair its verity or availability in such investigation."

Ahearn's death occurred early the morning of June 6, 2018, after she was shot around midnight while walking near Friendly's restaurant on South Main Street in Rochester. She died from a single gunshot wound.

Officers responded to the area for a reported shooting incident that apparently involved two groups of people.

Upon arrival, officers discovered three adults, including Ahearn who had sustained a gunshot wound.

Belanger remains at Strafford County Jail where he is being held without bail.