DA identifies man found dead in attempted murder-suicide in Salem

SALEM, Mass. — A woman shot in an apparent attempted murder-suicide in Salem was denied a restraining order by a N.H. judge, court records reveal.

At 5 p.m. Monday, November 15, a gunman shot the 33-year-old woman in the head as she left her job at Doyle’s Sailmakers in Salem. Authorities say the gunman turned the gun on himself and took his own life. On Tuesday, the Essex County DA’s Office identified the gunman as 55-year-old Richard Lorman of Wilton, NH.

The shooting victim’s name has not been officially released, but Doyle’s Sailmakers employees identified her as an office manager. According to N.H. court records, Lorman and the victim lived together in a condo in Hampton, N.H.

On September 21, the victim applied for a restraining order against Lorman. She claimed in a statement that Lorman had sexually and physically abused her. The woman wrote in her statement that Lorman tracked her on her cellphone to Marblehead, Mass. where he verbally abused her at the Marblehead Lighthouse. The woman claims he yelled at her, “I’m going to turn your world upside down!”

>>>PREVIOUS: 1 dead, 1 hospitalized in attempted murder-suicide in Salem

The statement also accuses Lorman of harassing the victim’s family as it reads, “his behavior seems to be escalating…[the victim] and therapist….very concerned that he will resort to violence in this mindset where he has lost control.”

N.H. Circuit Court Judge Polly Hall granted a 30-day restraining order to the victim on September 21, 2021. The file reveals on October 20, 2021, Judge Hall dismissed the case against Lorman, finding, “The Court cannot find that the defendant’s conduct constitutes a credible present threat to plaintiff’s safety.”

The file does not shed any light on what changed Judge Hall’s mind.

At Doyle’s Sailmakers, employees expressed their shock over Monday afternoon’s shooting, saying they hope the victim, despite her serious injury, would make a full recovery.

On Wednesday, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu released a statement on the attempted murder-suicide:

“What happened to [the victim] is an absolute tragedy and my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. As soon as this was brought to our attention I immediately contacted the judicial branch and confirmed this matter is being reviewed to the fullest extent possible.”

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