UPDATE 7 p.m. as released by the NH Attorney General’s office: On the morning of January 12, 2024, Manchester Police Officers were made aware to be on the lookout for Jake Chiaradonna, 35, as he was wanted in connection with a robbery that occurred on January 11. At approximately 9:30 a.m. Manchester Police Officers responded to the area of Pine St. and Plummer St. and observed a suspicious male. Officers pursued the individual and located him hiding inside of a stolen vehicle. The individual, who was later identified as Mr. Chiaradonna, refused commands to exit the vehicle. After a brief time, Mr. Chiaradonna opened the vehicle door, but refused to be placed in custody. During this refusal, Manchester officers utilized less-lethal force, which was unsuccessful at subduing Chiaradonna. This included deploying a K-9 unit. Mr. Chiaradonna stabbed the K-9 with a screwdriver.
Mr. Chiaradonna then fled on foot while pursued by officers and the K-9. Mr. Chiaradonna again assaulted the K-9 and confronted officers around the side of a building. During this confrontation, one officer used deadly force and fired on Mr. Chiaradonna. Mr. Chiaradonna was struck by this gunfire, and subsequently taken to a local hospital where he died several hours later. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, January 14, 2024.
No law enforcement officers have been physically injured, and there is no threat to the public. The K-9 was taken to a veterinarian where it was treated for its wound and later released.
The investigation by the New Hampshire Department of Justice and the New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit into the officer-involved shooting of Mr. Chiaradonna is ongoing, and the identity of the officer using deadly-force will not be disclosed until a formal interview takes place. This is expected to occur sometime next week. Further information will be provided at that time.
RELATED STORY⇒ Gunfire erupts at police stand-off on Plummer Street.
MANCHESTER, NH — A man is hospitalized with a gunshot wound inflicted by a police officer, while a police dog also is receiving emergency treatment after being wounded in the same Friday morning incident.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office is heading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting that took place about 10:30 a.m. in the area of Pine and Plummer streets.
The incident began when police were patrolling that area and spotted a man sitting in a parked car who they had been looking for in connection to some alleged crimes in Manchester and other communities, according to Chief Allen Aldenberg.
Officers ordered him to get out of the car, but he did not comply and began to act erratically.
SWAT members were deployed, as was the Bearcat. A neighboring building on Pine Street was evacuated as a precaution.
“During the course of this incident, there was an officer-involved shooting. The suspect was injured and Manchester Police tactical medics treated him on scene. American Medical Response was also on scene to assist and transported the suspect to a local hospital. No Manchester Police officers were hurt, however MPD K9 Duke did suffer injuries from a reported stab wound, but is expected to recover,” according to police.
New Hampshire State Police are investigating this incident.
“There is no known threat to the public at this time,” said Michael Garrity, the public information officer for the attorney general’s office. “The exact circumstances surrounding this incident remain under active investigation.”
Olga Hannon, 32, of Krakow Avenue said she was a “little scared. This has never happened before. This is a nice quiet neighborhood.”
A single, stay-at-home mother of a 3-year-old son, she looked out her window to see officers surrounding a vehicle. “Come out with your hands in the air,” she said officers repeatedly said over an intercom.
She called the police department and “the lady said there’s nothing to worry about.” She asked if there were going to be gunshots and was told, “No, there was nothing to worry about. It’s all been handled.”
Hannon said she thought she heard a gunshot but does not know what time that was.
After she called police, heavy traffic started coming down Krakow Avenue, which she said is unusual.
Officials had closed off streets surrounding the area, diverting traffic onto Krakow Avenue where Hannon has lived for five years.
She said she was looking out her window all morning, while trying to keep her son Langdon calm. He kept saying, “Mama, cops. Mama, cops. I was trying to keep him calm. That’s why I called the police department. Do I need to go somewhere else.”
She said, in general, she is just “shocked” that something like that took place so close to where she lives.
Hannon said on Thursday night she and her boyfriend thought they had heard a gunshot and then, Friday morning, they saw officers surrounding a building.
“This is unusual,” she said. Hannon said she and her boyfriend have been looking for another place.
“We’ve been looking for a while in general,” she said. “We definitely want to move. I want a better neighborhood and one that is family-oriented.”
