FRANKLIN, N.H. — A standoff with an armed barricaded suspect that triggered a shelter-in-place order for residents of a New Hampshire neighborhood ended with a deadly officer-involved shooting early Monday morning, law enforcement officials said.
A New Hampshire State Police SWAT team was called to the area of Central and West Bow streets in Franklin, where an armed man had barricaded himself inside a home, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella.
At some point during the response, the man was shot by police, Formella said. Life-saving measures were attempted, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. His name hasn’t been released pending notification of next of kin.
At approximately 9:54 p.m. Sunday, Franklin Police officers responded to an apartment building at 32 West Bow St. after receiving a 911 call from a woman. She reported that she was physically unharmed, but that she was inside her apartment when her adult male neighbor across the hall tried to smash through her front door.
Responding officers saw her door had been shot at with a firearm, Formella said. Officers evacuated her and tried to make contact with the man across the hall. Officers heard gunshots coming from inside the man’s home and an armed standoff ensued, during which members of the New Hampshire State Police SWAT Unit responded to assist.
That disturbance triggered a shelter-in-place order at approximately 2:45 a.m. Monday for residents in the area of Central and West Bow streets overnight. That order has since been lifted.
Initial reports indicate that officers saw black smoke coming from the windows and eaves of the building around 2:35 a.m. At approximately 3:01 a.m., officers could see fire inside the building when the man exchanged multiple gunshots with troopers.
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The man stopped firing and was found just outside the residence near a rear first-floor window after suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, Formella said.
Video from the scene showed smoke and flames billowing from the home.
The building suffered severe damage from the fire, Formella said. The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the origin and cause of the fire inside the home. At this time, there are no apparent indications that the fire was caused by any law enforcement action, Formella said.
Two members of the New Hampshire State Police SWAT Unit discharged firearms during the incident. The troopers were not identified pending the conclusion of formal investigation, per department protocol.
An autopsy will be scheduled by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
No police officers were injured during the standoff. There is no threat to the public at this time, Formella said.
The exact circumstances surrounding this incident remain under investigation.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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