NASHUA – Following a 14-month investigation, Attorney General John Formella justified the actions of two Nashua Police officers regarding their involvement in the shooting death of Pelham resident Ryan Prud’homme.

According to Formella’s report, Prud’homme left his home armed with a semiautomatic pistol on the evening of June 2, 2024 following an argument with his wife. During the quarrel, he threatened to commit suicide and told his wife that “she was going to watch him shoot himself.”

One of Prud’homme’s relatives contacted Pelham Police and told officers that Prud’homme was “not in a good place” and was at risk of harming himself.

Using Prud’homme’s cell phone number, police located him in the Lowe’s parking lot at 143 Daniel Webster Hwy. Pelham officers then contacted Nashua Police, who arrived at the scene just before 8:45 p.m.

Upon seeing police, Prud’homme drove away despite orders to get out of his truck. At that time, Officer Joshua Martin had just arrived at the scene and confronted Prud’homme on Sagamore Ridge Road.

Prud’homme remained armed despite seven orders from Martin to drop his weapon. He told Martin that he “wanted to die and expected Martin to kill him.” Martin responded saying he did not want to shoot Prud’homme, but would do so if necessary.

Martin was also joined by Officer Jay Atchue. However, Martin did not see him as was entirely focused on Prud’homme. On two occasions, Atchue struck Prud’homme with rounds from a less-than-lethal launcher.

Upon hearing Atchue’s first shot, Martin mistakenly believed that Prud’homme had fired at him. Martin responded with a single gunshot to Prud’homme’s chest causing him to fall to the ground. Despite first aid efforts, Prud’homme died at the scene. He was 41.

Formella’s report concluded that “deadly force against Mr. Prud’homme was necessary for protection from that perceived immediate deadly threat.”

Born in Lowell, Mass., Prud’homme graduated from Pelham High School in 2001.

He was employed for 15 years as a master plumber at Lake Industries, Inc. in Stoneham, Mass.