Nancy J. Picanso
the parking lot the following morning at approximately 7 a.m.
According to police reports, detectives spoke with several witnesses about the incident, including one man who claimed he had been threatened by an individual matching the suspect’s description moments before the shooting occurred.
LOWELL - Nancy J. (Jarek) Picanso, age 83, a lifelong resident of Lowell, passed away at Lowell General Hospital on Monday, March 13, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late Anthony C. “Butch” Picanso Jr. with whom she enjoyed nearly 58 years of marriage until his passing in 2016. She was born in Lowell on December 17, 1939 and was the daughter of the late Myron Z. and Martha T. (Rogers) Jarek. She was educated in Lowell Public Schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School class of 1957. After High School she attended Tewksbury State Hospital Nursing School and graduated in 1958 with a practical nursing certificate. She went on to work for Honeywell for over 25 years and retired from Vicor after 13 years of service. Nancy was a member of the Polish American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary of Lowell. An active member of
St. Margaret Parish, where she was a member of the Prayer Shawl Group, prayed the Rosary, and took pride in setting the alter daily for mass. She was also an avid volunteer at St. Casmir’s Parish where she enjoyed leading the Pierogi and Golabki making. She and Butch enjoyed traveling. They would visit Lake George, NY and Maine, but you could always find them in Las Vegas, NV many times a year. Later in her life Nancy loved trips to Encore and Foxwoods to play bingo and try her luck at the slot machines. She also enjoyed vacationing in York Beach, ME with her nieces and nephews. Family gatherings were important to Nancy. She adored celebrating holidays with family and always looked forward to Sunday dinners at the farm.
Nancy is survived by her brothers, Francis Jarek and his wife Linda of Hudson, NH, and Gerald “Jake” Jarek of Lowell; her nieces and nephews, Mary Jane Kukulski, Cheryl Clark, Karen Bozek and her husband Ed, Robert Kukulski and his wife Cheryl, William Kukulski and his wife Ann,
Jill Pimentel and her companion Rufus, Robin Lyman and her husband John, Brian Kukulski and his wife Debra, Nicole Jarek, Pamela Jarek and her companion Scott, Kevin Jarek and his companion Pam, Frank Jarek, Kathy Gagnon and her husband Gerard, and Walter Koziarski; many great nephews and nieces and great-great nephews and nieces; and several close friends from St. Margaret and St. Casmir’s Parish. In addition to her husband and parents, Nancy is predeceased by her siblings, Martha Kukulski and her husband Frank Sr., and Myron “Mike” Jarek; her nephew, Frank Kukulski Jr.; and her niece, Patricia Koziarski.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, March 19th from 1pm to 5pm at the DRACUT FUNERAL HOME, 2159 Lakeview Ave., DRACUT. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 12pm at
St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, 374 Stevens
St., LOWELL. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, CHELMSFORD. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Nancy’s memory to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Boston at svdpboston.org. Funeral Directors Paul A. Hardy, Jr. & Jennifer Hardy. For directions and online guestbook, visit DRACUTFUNERALHOME.COM and find us on Facebook.
Police reports state the man said he was sitting in his friend’s car in front of 2 Dalton St., when the suspect approached him, asking why the car had been parked there all day. The man told police the suspect banged on the car’s window before getting into the backseat.
According to the man’s
account to police, the suspect “brandished what appeared to be a black firearm and pointed it at his person.” The frightened man got out of the car and walked backwards away from the suspect toward Ennell Street.
“While attempting to create distance from this suspect, (the witness) stated that he heard one distinct gun shot,” police reports state.
The day after the shooting, police reports state detectives went to Khiaosoth’s apartment at 8 Dalton St. Police said Khiaosoth agreed to speak with detectives, at which point he denied any involvement in the shooting. During questioning, police reports state Khiaosoth affirmed he was the sole operator of the Volvo and that he had driven the vehicle the night before.
“At some point, Sovandara was confronted by several inconsistencies and he invoked his right to counsel, ending the conversation,” police reports state.
Detectives executed a search warrant at Khiaosoth’s Dalton Street apartment, where they allegedly uncovered ammunition and clothing that matched the description of the suspect from the surveillance footage and from witness accounts.
In addition to armed assault with intent to murder, Khiaosoth was arraigned in Lowell District Court on March 13 on the charges of possession of a firearm without a license, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and assault and battery with a firearm.
Khiaosoth’s attorney, Eileen Morrison, said on Friday that Khiaosoth maintains his innocence.
“Because it is so early, we are going to refrain from commenting further at this time,” Morrison added.
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