A woman who worked as a head nurse for a local school district in Massachusetts was shot to death outside her home in broad daylight, according to multiple reports.
The woman, identified as 59-year-old Laurie Melchionda, was found Wednesday afternoon outside the door of her home by responding officers after someone called 911 to report a shooting. She was transferred to the South Shore Hospital where she later died, officials said.
Police also found 61-year-old Robert Bonang, Melchionda’s former neighbor, who stayed at the scene after the shooting until police arrived and arrested him.
Bonang faced a Quincy District Court judge electronically Thursday morning and has been arraigned on murder and firearms charges. He is held without bond, WBZ4 reported.
During his arraignment, a witness described how Bonang disguised himself as a UPS driver, approaching Melchionda with his hands inside a box, allegedly firing a gun concealed in the box.
During arraignment, DA: witness described Bonang walking up to the victim’s (Laurie Melchionda,) home Wednesday dressed like a UPS driver w/ box, his hands were inside box, he allegedly fired at victim, spent casings found within the box. Police got multiple 911 calls@boston25
— Evan White (@EvanWhiteIII) June 18, 2020
“It is believed that this is a targeted event,” Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said during a press conference.
Bonang and Melchionda knew each other, Morrissey noted. The suspect left the Braintree neighborhood years ago and hadn’t lived in the area for at least six years since he moved to Marshfield—a town roughly 20 miles from Braintree—after the death of his parents, Morrissey said.
Police said they have had previous encounters with Bonang and responded to “a number of general neighborhood complaints,” the Boston Herald reported. Details about these complaints were not provided.
“We are suffering a tremendous loss,” Dr. Midge Connolly said after learning of Melchionda’s death. “We will be spending many difficult moments grieving her loss.”
She was married and had three adult children.
Connolly is the superintendent of the Weston Massachusetts Public Schools community and he wrote a lengthy tribute on the school district’s website following Melchionda’s death.
“It is with deepest grief that I share with you that Weston’s Director of Health Services and Field School Nurse, Laurie Melchionda, was tragically shot and killed outside her Braintree home this morning. We are reeling from this shocking and devastating news. Please join me in extending our heartfelt sympathies to Laurie’s family,” Connolly wrote.
“In her two years at Weston, she made a tremendous impact in supporting the health and well-being of all of our students, working closely with her nursing staff, educators, families, service providers, and town leaders,” the statement continued. “Most recently, Laurie was the primary liaison between the schools and the Weston Board of Health throughout the COVID-19 crisis and was instrumental in guiding and supporting the school and the town.”
Connolly said counselors will be available in the coming days to assist students and staff in the wake of her death.