CONCORD, NH – A man was fatally shot by New Hampshire State Police in the lobby of a psychiatric hospital on Friday afternoon. The individual was suspected of shooting and killing another person within the facility.
The state police were initially called to respond to a situation involving “multiple victims” at the New Hampshire Hospital in Concord. The hospital, which has approximately 185 beds, is the only state-operated psychiatric hospital in New Hampshire.
The shooting incident was confirmed by the police, and later, the state’s Department of Safety, Homeland Security, and Emergency Management announced the suspected shooter’s demise.
The New Hampshire Hospital is situated in the state’s capital, Concord, in close proximity to Concord High School, several state agencies, and a district courthouse. The hospital campus spans over a hundred acres of land.
Governor Chris Sununu confirmed in a social media post that the hospital campus had been secured and police later assured that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
U.S. Democratic Representative Annie Kuster described the incident as “horrifying” and urged the public to steer clear of the hospital vicinity while the police conducted their investigation. Kuster expressed gratitude towards the state police for their prompt response and offered condolences to the victim’s family and the Concord community.
Other members of the state’s congressional delegation also expressed their support in the wake of the incident.
The governor stated that the state had promptly responded to the situation, with first responders and law enforcement present at the scene. He assured that more details would be provided as the situation unfolded.
This incident adds to the growing list of violent acts occurring at U.S. hospitals, a trend that has contributed to making health care one of the nation’s most violent fields.
Several law enforcement agencies were involved in responding to the shooting.