RELATED STORY ⇒ Police release identity of man who shot security officer at Concord hospital
UPDATE (9:30 p.m.) The victim in the deadly shooting currently under investigation at the New Hampshire State Hospital in Concord has been identified as Bradley Haas, 63, of Franklin.
Mr. Haas, a New Hampshire Department of Safety Security Officer, was shot in the line of duty while working security at the hospital’s front lobby entrance around 3:30 p.m. Friday. Mr. Haas was a father and a law enforcement veteran who previously served as Chief of the Franklin Police Department in his hometown of Franklin. He served the Franklin Police Department for 28 years, beginning as a patrol officer after serving three years as a military police officer in the U.S. Army. Mr. Haas’ family is asking for privacy at this time.
The shooter, who is also deceased, was immediately engaged by a New Hampshire State Police Trooper assigned to the hospital. Members of New Hampshire State Police, the Concord Police Department, New Hampshire State Office Complex Police, and the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office quickly responded to the shooting incident along with members of the Concord Fire Department.
Investigators are not releasing the identity of the shooter at this time as the investigation into the shooting incident continues. At this point 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.
Autopsies are scheduled for tomorrow in Concord at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Pursuant to protocol, the name of the Trooper involved in the incident is being withheld pending the conclusion of a formal interview.
At this point, the investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released as it becomes available while protecting the integrity of the investigation.
For family members of New Hampshire Hospital patients and staff looking for information about their loved ones, the Department of Health and Human Services has established a call center. The phone number is (603) 271-3004. The call center will remain open until further notice.
An update on the investigation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Incident Planning and Operations Center (IPOC) Media Room located at 110 Smokey Bear Boulevard in Concord, New Hampshire. Participants will include Attorney General John Formella, Governor Chris Sununu, Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn, State Police Colonel Mark Hall, and HHS Commissioner Lori Weaver.
UPDATE (6 p.m.) A person armed with a gun entered the lobby of New Hampshire Hospital at about 3:30 p.m. on Friday and opened fire, shooting the security officer who was later pronounced dead.
According to NH State Police Col. Mark Hall a Trooper who was assigned to the hospital an in “close proximity” shot and killed the suspect. CPR was administered to the victim who could not be revived. The victim’s identity was not released pending notification of family members, Hall said.
Police were working to identify the shooter and the bomb squad was also investigating a “suspicious vehicle” that was in the parking lot of the psychiatric hospital, Hall said.
He reinforced that there was no threat to the public, patients or staff.
NH DHHS Commissioner Lori Weaver said a call center was being established for families wishing to reach out to loved ones and that information would be “released shortly.” Family visitation at the hospital was off-limits until further notice.
“This is a difficult and unimaginable day for our employees and community,” Weaver said. “We’ll continue to make resources available in the coming hours and days.”
Hall fielded questions from reporters, including any known motive of the shooter or related circumstances, but most of the questions were not answered as Hall cited the “ongoing investigation.”
He did confirm that the “suspicious vehicle” was unoccupied and asked that the public stay clear of the government campus.
CONCORD, NH (5 p.m.)– A “shooting incident” that unfolded this afternoon at New Hampshire Hospital is “contained,” according to NH State Police, who also reported there were “multiple victims” via a social media post just after 4 p.m.
“This afternoon, there was an incident at New Hampshire Hospital, which has been contained. While the scene remains active as the campus is cleared, the suspect is deceased. The state immediately mobilized, and first responders and law enforcement are on the scene. We will provide as many details as possible as this situation unfolds,” wrote Gov. Chris Sununu in a news release issued just before 5 p.m.
At 5:30 p.m. State Police posted more details, saying that the shooting incident was “contained to the front lobby of New Hampshire Hospital” and that “all patients are safe and there is no active threat to the public.”
The shooting was reported at around 3:30 p.m.
The state-run psychiatric hospital provides in-house care for patients with acute mental illness, according to the state’s website.
The state Homeland Security and Emergency Management department was also on scene assisting along with Concord Police and NH State Police.
We’ll update this story as more information becomes available.