BELCHERTOWN — A Connecticut man who pleaded not guilty to a series of charges related to a New Year’s Eve shooting in Hadley is being held until a dangerousness hearing in Eastern Hampshire District Court on Tuesday, according to the Northwestern district attorney’s office.
Marc A. Veturis, 28, of Waterbury, pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday before Judge John McKenna to charges of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery by discharging a firearm, attempted kidnapping, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and unlawful possession of a loaded firearm as a result of the incident that injured a 59-year-old Hadley man on Mill Valley Road in Hadley on the afternoon of Dec. 31.
The victim of the shooting was taken by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
While the district attorney’s office has not identified the victim, he has been publicly identified on Facebook posts as Bruce Jenks, who runs the Maple Valley Creamery.
The Mill Valley Milk Store later expressed appreciation for people’s support of “Farmer Bruce” in a post on Jan. 2: “We are happy to report Bruce will be back at the farm today and our store will reopen. We all are so grateful for your concern and support.”
Another Facebook post put out by the business Jenks owns states Jenks went to the intersection for what appeared to be a broken-down vehicle, then assisted the driver with jumper cables to get the vehicle started, at which time the driver drew a small handgun and demanded Jenks get into the car, before a struggle ensued and he was shot in the shoulder.
Veturis is alleged to have fled the scene of the shooting and was later arrested in Connecticut. He was transported to Eastern Hampshire District Court Wednesday afternoon for the arraignment.
Hadley Police Chief Michael Mason, whose department investigated the incident, previously said that the shooting was not a random act. But no reason has yet been given for the attack on Jenks.
In 2001, Jenks was sentenced to eight to nine years in state prison on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after a jury convicted him of stabbing his girlfriend more than a dozen times at their Northampton home in July 2000. He was acquitted of more serious charges of assault with intent to murder and assault with intent to kill.
The woman lost a spleen and kidney and was in a coma for three days as a result of the attack.
The LinkedIn page for Veturis identifies him as a certified personal trainer of the National Academy of Sports Medicine, as well as a women’s fitness specialist.
The case is being prosecuted by Northwestern Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Suhl, while Veturis was represented at his court appearance by Easthampton attorney Alfred Chamberland.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
