DELIVERING DEATH
Man, 61, ‘dressed as UPS driver and shot ex-neighbor seven times at her door with gun hidden in fake package’
A MAN dressed up as a UPS driver and allegedly shot his former neighbor at her own front door after hiding a rifle inside a fake package, according to prosecutors.
Robert Bonang, 61, is accused of disguising himself as a delivery worker before walking up to his neighbor’s doorstep in on Wednesday.
6
6
According to a babysitter who was watching nearby, Bonang approached Laurie Melchionda’s front door while wearing a surgical mask and brown jacket, and carrying a box.
The babysitter was walking away with the children she was watching when she heard screaming, Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Greg Connor said during Bonang’s arraignment on Thursday.
The teenager turned around and said she saw Bonang with a rifle that was hidden inside the delivery box.
According to , Connor said the teenager noticed Bonang’s appearance.
6
6
“She let him walk in front of her because she was concerned about him. He began to go to 54 Howie Street. He rang the doorbell frantically.”
“She walked away with the children, heard screaming, and turned around and saw the man shooting at Mrs Melchionda with the gun from the box.”
Melchionda was shot seven times and was rushed to the hospital, where she died.
Bonang remained at the scene on Wednesday until arrived and arrested him.
6
6
A neighbor told the news outlet of the 59-year-old woman: “She was a dear friend of the neighborhood. Words just can’t describe the loss that we feel in the neighborhood.”
Melchionda worked as the director of health services for Weston Public Schools and as a school nurse at a nearby elementary school; she was married and leaves behind her partner and three children.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Bonang used to live across the street from Melchionda, and the two apparently “had a history of issues.”
Bonang was hit with murder and firearms charges and was ordered held without bail.
He’s scheduled to appear in court on July 17.
Topics