Mark Donnelly

Do you know who murdered 32 year old Mark Donnelly in 2013?
Mark Donnelly, a 32-year-old white male, was a talented and well-known street artist from Nashua, New Hampshire, whose work was admired by many in his community. Friends described him as a special person, an awesome friend, and one of the hardest workers they knew. A devoted father, he had recently moved to Manchester to live with his fiancée, Vanessa Hall, and their young daughter. He also had an older daughter from a previous relationship. Friends recall that in the time leading up to his death, he was focusing primarily on his work and his children. His art, often created on canvases for friends, remains a lasting legacy.

On the night of Saturday, May 18, 2013, Donnelly was walking with two friends near the intersection of Pine and Prospect streets in Manchester. Just before 11 p.m., a car stopped near the group, and they exchanged words with the people inside. Some witnesses reported that the confrontation began after a woman approached Donnelly and his friends to ask for money. The verbal dispute quickly escalated, and an unknown person in the car fired a handgun. Donnelly was struck by a single bullet in the chest. A neighbor who heard the shots looked out her window to see him fall to the sidewalk as his friends rushed to his side.

Emergency services arrived on the scene shortly after receiving a 911 call reporting shots fired in the area of 55 Prospect Street. Paramedics transported Donnelly to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The New Hampshire state medical examiner’s office later performed an autopsy and officially ruled his death a homicide, confirming the cause was a single gunshot wound to the chest. His friend, Adam Brown, later visited the site of the shooting, describing it as a quiet neighborhood and expressing his shock and disbelief. "As soon as I found out it was Mark (who was killed), I knew it had to be over nothing," Brown said. "Mark died over nothing."

The Manchester Police Department launched an immediate homicide investigation, with assistance from the New Hampshire Attorney General's office. Detectives canvassed the neighborhood for evidence and witnesses, but few details about the suspect or the vehicle were released to the public. In the days following the shooting, police appealed to the public for any information that might lead to an arrest, but the case quickly went cold. No arrests have ever been made, and the person who shot Mark Donnelly remains unidentified.

In the wake of his sudden and violent death, Donnelly's family and friends were left devastated. A fund was established to help with funeral expenses and to provide for his two young daughters, who were 7 and 2 years old at the time. A local business, the Nashua Car Wash, held a two-day benefit, donating its proceeds to support the family. Friends and loved ones shared memories and condolences on social media, remembering a man they cared for deeply.

As of May 2024, the murder of Mark Donnelly remains unsolved. His case is listed on the Manchester Police Department's Unsolved Crimes page. Authorities continue to ask for the public's help in bringing his killer to justice. A reward is available through Manchester Crimeline for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person responsible. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Manchester Police Detective Unit at 603-668-8711 or the Manchester Crimeline at 603-624-4040.