Manchester feels heavier this week as family and friends remember Kade Harrower, the 29-year-old whose life ended Monday afternoon inside a small Elm Street apartment. Harrower was found with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest late in the afternoon on February 16. Police waited until Tuesday to confirm his death was ruled a homicide by the state Medical Examiner, even though investigators call the shooting accidental — a moment that changed two families forever in a quiet New England city.
The young man charged in Harrower’s death is Adrian David Garcia Bonilla, 21 and also from Manchester. Police arrested Bonilla shortly after officers arrived at the scene. He now faces charges of manslaughter and felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon. Investigators say Bonilla believed the firearm was not loaded when it discharged.
Friends describe Harrower as the kind of guy who made people laugh — a friend you could call at any hour — and they are struggling to make sense of what happened that day. The apartment where Harrower was found is now part of a sprawling investigation by the Manchester Police Department and the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office. For those who knew him, the idea that he was killed by what authorities say was an unintentional shot makes the loss feel both senseless and impossible to put into words.
Police say the call to the Elm Street apartment came in just before 3:45 p.m. Monday. Officers arrived to find Harrower unresponsive. Minutes later, detectives were piecing together the moments before the shooting. Officials say Bonilla has cooperated with investigators but offered little explanation beyond insisting he never meant harm because he thought the gun was safe.
As the community reels, neighbors tell a common story: Harrower was a fixture in the block, someone who walked his dog in the mornings, waved to people passing by and always had time for a quick conversation. “It’s hard to picture something like this happening here,” one resident said, shaking his head. “You never think something like this is going to touch your street.”
Bonilla’s arraignment is scheduled in the days ahead. Meanwhile, Harrower’s family is left planning a service, sharing memories of his laughter, his warmth and the unexpected way his time was cut short. Friends have started organizing a small gathering, not just to mourn but to share stories about who Harrower really was.
The Manchester Police Department says it will release more details as the case moves through the court system. For now, this city sits in quiet reflection, wrestling with grief and an accident that won’t soon be forgotten.
