Deadly Shooting in Wilbraham

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By Liz Tufts

Police responded to the Woodcrest Condominiums in Wilbraham just after 8 o'clock Thursday night for reports of a shooting. Officials say that shooting was between two neighbors, after one man forced his way into another condo.

The tranquility at the Woodcrest Condominiums on Boston Road was broken last night with the sounds of police and ambulance sirens. Police say 29-year-old David Gatti who lived in unit C-25 was shot to death by a man who lives four doors down in C-20.

Police say Gatti forced his way into his neighbors home and refused to leave. The neighbor had no idea who Gatti was.

"He was surprised, he opened the door and the person entered and continued to advance on him, " says Chief Allen Sutton of the Wilbraham Police Department.

Police aren't releasing the shooter's name, but town hall records show the condo is owned by a Ronald Duval and Barbara Scotti. They told police Gatti wandered around their home and became aggressive. When Gatti wouldn't leave, the man grabbed his gun and shot Gatti twice, once in the leg and in the chest. As of now, no charges have been filed against the shooter.

"As we continue the investigation the resident appeared to act in a defensive way and there's no charges pending, " adds Sutton.

The Massachusetts State Police are assisting with Wilbraham Police with the investigation. They hope an autopsy may tell them why Gatti went into his neighbor's condo in the first place.

Thursday, Jul 2 at 7:07 AM Wait for facts wrote ...

The_Truth, you say that Dave broke into another person's home which makes him a bad person, but the shooter stated that he heard noises at the door and then opened the door - that is when Dave advanced in. Dave was a great person and I think we should wait to hear the facts (the autopsy report, mainly) before everyone starts making judgements based on reading one news article.

Thursday, May 28 at 2:57 PM unknown wrote ...

I also dated gatti for a short time. He was an amazing guy, he didn't deserve that

Tuesday, May 12 at 4:49 PM Anonymous wrote ...

wow good job of pointing out a typo.who cares if someone made a typo! it does not mean then dont know dave i think you are getting off track here!

Tuesday, May 12 at 11:53 AM Noneofyabusiness wrote ...

This is a devastating turn of events. A family has to bury thier son, not to mention the cruel aftermath of all this, Wilbraham loves to talk. I know the family, they are all great people. At this time, we should send them lots of stregnth, and respect their privacy. The man who shot him has to live with this, eternally. I can't imagine he takes any satisfaction in doing this. Not for nothing, if you were as close as you claim to the victim, you would know how to spell his name, Gatti.

Tuesday, May 12 at 9:30 AM CHICKEN wrote ...

U ARE A WIMP FOR SHOOTING MY BUDDY

Tuesday, May 12 at 9:20 AM CLASS CHAMP wrote ...

PUT HIM AWAY FOR GOOD!!!!! SINCERLY CLASS CHAMP

Tuesday, May 12 at 9:19 AM JETHRO wrote ...

PUT HIM IN JAIL

Tuesday, May 12 at 9:17 AM jethro wrote ...

Well I personally think that the violence in massachusetts should stop.This has been going on to long people shouldn't be shoot by another person because they did something wrong, however they should punished another way. People never think about how that persons family may feel now that one of there family members is gone.I think that who ever shot that man needs to go to jail for a long time.If somebody comes to your house an doesn't want to leave that gives you no right to shoot them.JETHRO!!

Monday, May 11 at 10:12 AM ignorantpeople. wrote ...

Two things. 1.the neighbor knew him. how could he not. everytime i went over to daves house, he was waving politely to his neighbors. 2.My friends and I used to call dave smiley because he was ALWAYS smiling, never aggressive, never got angry, and in general a normal, happy person. this does not make any sense to me.

Monday, May 11 at 9:38 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I went to high school with Dave and he was a good natured person.The incident seems extremely out of character and it seems to me that after the owner shot him in the leg that Dave would have been incapacitated. I feel that the gunshot to the chest was unnecessary. It seems to me that the condo owner wanted a reason to do what he did. after someone has been shot and wounded there is no further need for more violence.

Monday, May 11 at 9:29 AM Justified wrote ...

Sounds to me like a home invasion, regardless of the relationship of the parties involved. The homeowner told the intruder to leave, and the assailant advanced on him. Castle Doctrine in the Commonwealth says that the shooter is justified in what he did to solve the immediate threat to his safety. By the way, "thisistragic" shooting someone in the legs IS using lethal force. Sounds like Gatti died from blood loss, which could have been caused just as easily by the leg hit as the torso hit.

Sunday, May 10 at 9:25 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I went to high school with David and he was a great guy! This whole story just doesnt add up!! The owner of condo shouldnt have shot him, let alone kill him!! I hope the Gatti family presses charges! My thoughts and prayer are with the family.

Sunday, May 10 at 8:46 PM Chris wrote ...

Dave Gaddi was a good friend of mine. I Know he is not an aggresive person, its not in his nature. No matter what state his mind was in. The man who shot him certainly did not do it as a last resort. He deserves to be in jail.

Saturday, May 9 at 8:21 PM john doe wrote ...

jane doe you are a complete idiot if you think the owner should go to jail. obviously gatti was not a great guy if he aggresivly provoked someone to the point of them feeling the need to shoot.

Saturday, May 9 at 9:25 AM Jane Doe wrote ...

Dave was a normal guy, nothing wrong with him at all. i used to hangout with him all the time. he wouldnt hurt a fly this makes no sense to me at all wat so ever! the guy that shot him should got to jail.

Saturday, May 9 at 12:45 AM RIP wrote ...

I dated dave for a short time he was a great guy all this is just shocking!

Friday, May 8 at 11:35 PM sad wrote ...

There is so much missing info and this doesn't add up. I knew him too and agree that this is simply heartbreaking. Unfortunately we'll never know Dave's side to the story.

Friday, May 8 at 9:12 PM Anonymous wrote ...

gaddi was a good person he would never hurt anyone this is just heartbreaking!I know the homeowners acted in self defense but the leg was enough! they didnt have to kill him!

Friday, May 8 at 8:59 PM The_Truth wrote ...

Thisistragic, I am sorry but you are wrong. The homeowner was defending himself, does not matter that Gatti was not armed. Gatti may have been a good person, but he broke into another persons home, otherwise he would not have been shot. Is it a tragedy yes, should the homeowner be charged, no way.

Friday, May 8 at 7:24 PM thisistragic wrote ...

i dont care if this person came into their home, he was their neighbor, the homeowner shouldn't have used lethal force. shoot him in the legs for christ's sake. he wasn't armed. they knew him. so tragic. i hope the family of david gatti presses charges for manslaughter. people with guns make me sick. and yes, i knew the victim and he was a good person.

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