Shooting at New Hampshire State Hospital, multiple victims

Hall told reporters around 5:15 p.m. that the incident was confined to the hospital lobby.

Haas was shot around 3:30 p.m., New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella’s office said in a statement.

“The victim received CPR on scene and was transported to Concord Hospital,” Hall said. “Unfortunately, this person is now deceased.”

Gov. Chris Sununu issued a statement late Friday lamenting Haas’ death, saying “he will be remembered for his heroism and decades of public service.”

Haas was a father and former police chief in his hometown of Franklin, where he spent 28 years on the force after three years as a military police officer in the U.S. Army, Formella’s office said. Haas’ family has asked for respect for his privacy, the statement said.

Franklin Police Chief David Goldstein, who succeeded Haas as head of the department in 2009 after his retirement, said Haas “was a gentleman” who dedicated his career to public safety.

“You would think that a person who retires successfully (and) comfortably, then returns to work to do more for the community, would be allowed to complete what they wanted to do, but tragically their life was taken away from them” , Goldstein said. .

“The chief chose to continue serving individuals by accepting a position as a security guard at the state hospital,” Goldstein said. “And since we all worry about when we leave our house, do we come home? Is something going to happen? We don’t know what to expect. And I guess it just didn’t change for him and unfortunately he was killed today in his role, so we want to remember him fondly.

Formella’s office did not release the name of the officer who shot the suspect, “pending the conclusion of a formal interview.”

Autopsies on the victim and suspect are scheduled for Saturday at the chief medical examiner’s office in Concord.

The state Department of Health and Human Services has set up a call center at 603-271-3004 for family members of New Hampshire hospital patients and staff, the office said from Formella.

The 185-bed hospital is the only state-run mental health facility. As of Friday, 152 patients were admitted, according to state data.

No patients were injured and there was no active shooter threat, officials said.

Hours after the shooting, dozens of police and state troopers remained at the scene. State police vehicles were parked with their blue lights flashing outside the main entrance to the New Hampshire Hospital. Yellow police tape was hung near the parking lot, near the entrance.

Hospital employees on their way to work declined to comment. One employee said he had been waiting for several hours before being allowed in and starting his shift. He said he was not alerted to the shooting and learned about it through local media.

Around 8 p.m., police told people parked in the hospital parking lot that they could remove their cars if they needed to leave.

Hall said police are working to identify the suspect. Hall did not provide details about a potential motive or the weapon used in the shooting.

“All patients are safe and we are asking people to avoid the area while the investigation continues,” Hall said.

The scene is still considered active, with investigators having identified a suspicious vehicle, he said. Authorities later confirmed that the vehicle, a box truck, did not pose a risk to public safety.

“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family as well as our colleagues who were impacted,” said Lori Weaver, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. “We have teams supporting patients and staff for as long as necessary as we navigate this tragedy together. The hospital remains closed to visitors and remains open to serve patients, and our dedicated staff will continue to provide skilled, compassionate care as they do every day.

One of the nearby residents, Owen Jones, said he saw someone running from the building as the incident was unfolding.

“I’m a little shocked,” he said.

Jones acknowledged that the recent mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, are fresh in New Hampshire minds. Concord is about 120 miles southwest of Lewiston.

The first reports of the shooting came in at 3:38 p.m.

A Concord police dispatcher informed officers of the shooting at the hospital, according to Broadcastify.com dispatch records.

“We have shots fired at the state hospital,” the dispatcher said. “There is a male subject with a gun. He may be on the ground. … The shooter is on the ground. The officer is not on the ground.

Minutes later, the dispatcher said she had come into contact with a woman at the hospital and was told the shooter entered through the hospital’s main entrance.

“While the caller was calling, I could hear gunshots in the background,” the dispatcher said. “She said a subject might have died. I asked him if it was security. She indicated: “No. It was security that demeaned the man.’”

Officers at the scene said they could see the suspect on the ground, and one officer asked if an armored vehicle needed to be deployed. “Negative,” replied an officer who appeared to be near the hospital entrance. “We are committed now. We extract one.

Moments later, an officer took stock of the scene.

“The shooter is on the ground right now. He’s on the ground. It’s in the main entrance. We’re holding him for now,” the officer said. “If we can get the fire through the main entrance. We have one injured.

The dispatcher asked for clarification. “Any injuries other than the shooter?” the dispatcher asked.

“An injured person other than the shooter,” the officer replied.

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