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Bova indicted on murder charges

David Bova is seen in April 2019 after his March arrest. (Photo provided)

PLATTSBURGH — A Clinton County grand jury has indicted David J. Bova on second-degree murder and attempted murder charges.

The first charge is for “intentionally causing the death of Magen Goyette,” a press release from the Clinton County District Attorney’s Office said, and the latter “for attempting to cause” the death of Michelle Goyette, Magen’s mother.

The indictment further charges Bova with first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree criminal use of a firearm and second-degree menacing.

Bova, 30, was arraigned Wednesday on all six counts in Clinton County Court before Judge William A. Favreau.

Represented by attorney James E. Tyner, the defendant pleaded not guilty to each count.

The DA’s office requested that the defendant be held without bail pending further court action.

‘Emptied the rifle’

On the morning of March 13, Bova allegedly shot Magen in the head as she sat in her mother’s pickup truck near Fred’s Auto Repair on Silver Lake Road in the Town of Black Brook.

He had apparently crashed his pickup truck into some trees there, and, according to his statement to police, took his 9mm Hi-Point rifle from the backseat and had started to walk home when Michelle drove her black Silverado pickup truck into view.

Bova admitted in his statement that he fired rounds from the gun but said he wasn’t sure if he’d hit anyone in the vehicle.

Fred Drake, a witness, said Bova approached to within 3 or 4 of the truck, while another witness, Diane Parrow-Drake said Bova “shot right through the window at Magen.”

Bova then left on foot, heading toward his home on nearby Separator Road.

“I kept walking, and the gun was empty of ammunition,” he told police.

Bova caught a ride home with a passer-by.

He said in his statement that, once there, he smoked a cigarette and awaited police.

Bova and Megan had been in a relationship for about six months, he said.

The shooting followed a night of arguments with her, he told police.

15 years to life

The charge of second-degree murder carries a mandatory minimum determinate sentence of 15 years to life and a maximum determinate sentence of 25 years to life, the DA’s Office said.

District Attorney Andrew Wylie and Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Stitt are prosecuting the case.

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