GREENFIELD — The New Salem man facing charges after allegedly intentionally shooting a relative in November was ordered held without the right to bail on Monday and is due back in Franklin County Superior Court next month for a dangerousness hearing.
Richard Anderson, 69, appeared virtually before Judge Michael Callan, who ruled in favor of the state’s motion for pretrial detention pending a hearing Feb. 10, at 10 a.m. Anderson pleaded not guilty to armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a firearm, a second offense of possession of ammunition without a license to carry and possession of a firearm without an FID card. The ammunition charge is a misdemeanor.
Anderson had pleaded not guilty in Orange District Court in November, but the case got transferred to Superior Court due to its severity.
According to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, New Salem Police Officer Zachary Warner was dispatched to a Neilson Road home on Nov. 14 on a report of an intentional shooting resulting in serious injuries. Warner responded to the residence and used de-escalation techniques to disarm the shooter, later identified as Anderson, and arrest him. Warner then reportedly retrieved a medical kit from the police cruiser and rushed to render first aid to the victim, who is the shooter’s relative and suffered significant blood loss from gunshot wounds to the head and forearm. The officer continued providing first aid until advanced medical services arrived and took over.
Warner’s actions earned him a commendation from Police Chief Joseph Camden. It was the first commendation Camden issued in 34 years on the job and was presented to Warner at the New Salem Police Station on Nov. 26.
Monday’s virtual arraignment had been scheduled for 2:15 p.m., but it was moved to the morning because Anderson was already in Orange District Court for a separate matter. The arraignment was held via the online video conferencing platform Zoom.