Shooter kills safety guard earlier than being fatally shot at New Hampshire psychiatric hospital

CONCORD, N.H. — A shooter killed a safety guard within the foyer of New Hampshire’s state psychiatric hospital on Friday earlier than being fatally shot by a state trooper, officers stated.

The taking pictures occurred round 3:30 p.m. at New Hampshire Hospital and was contained to the entrance foyer of the 185-bed facility, State Police Col. Mark Hall stated at a information convention. He stated CPR was carried out on the sufferer, who later died at Concord Hospital.

Authorities recognized the sufferer Friday evening as Bradley Haas, 63, a state Department of Safety safety officer who was working on the entrance foyer entrance.

All sufferers on the psychiatric hospital have been protected, and the state trooper who killed the shooter was not wounded, in response to authorities.

“Investigators with the New Hampshire State Police have searched and cleared a suspicious box truck near the scene. They determined the truck poses no safety risk,” the assertion from the legal professional normal’s workplace stated.

Haas lived in Franklin, a small metropolis about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Concord. He labored as a police officer for 28 years and rose to turn into police chief, in response to a press release from the state legal professional normal’s workplace.

PHOTOS: Shooter kills safety guard earlier than being fatally shot at New Hampshire psychiatric hospital

The Franklin Police Department mourned the loss of life of the previous chief, saying he devoted a long time to the town and police division earlier than retiring in 2008.

“He continued to dedicate his time to the NH community by serving as a security officer helping and protecting those at the NH State Hospital,” the police division stated on their Facebook web page. “The FPD will honor his memory by flying our flags at half staff and wearing mourning bands in our badges.”

No additional info was launched concerning the shooter, a doable motive or different particulars of the assault. But authorities deliberate to supply an replace on the investigation Saturday morning.

Friday’s taking pictures was the newest act of violence at a U.S. hospital. Medical facilities nationwide have struggled to adapt to the rising threats, which have helped make well being care one of many nation’s most violent fields.

It got here weeks after 18 folks have been killed and 13 others injured in a mass taking pictures in neighboring Maine.

The hospital remained in operation however was closed to guests Friday night.

The facility is the one state-run psychiatric hospital for adults in New Hampshire. Located within the capital metropolis, it’s half of a big state workplace park that features a number of state companies and is close to the town’s highschool and district courthouse. The Department of Safety supplies safety for the hospital.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster known as the taking pictures “horrifying.”

“Thank you to the State Police Officers who responded to the scene so quickly,” Kuster stated in a press release. “My thoughts are with the victim, their family, and the Concord community.”