Police fatally shoot suspect, discover body of 8-year-old boy

An 8-year-old’s body was discovered in a vehicle after a man, believed to have murdered his wife, was shot dead by police on a bridge linking New Hampshire and Maine, as reported by officials on a Thursday. The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, had allegedly called 911 at 2:07 a.m. claiming he had a dispute with his wife and that she was deceased.

Police Response and Confrontation

In response to the 911 call, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the couple's residence in Troy, New Hampshire, where they discovered the lifeless body of a woman. Subsequently, the man’s vehicle was located parked on the Piscataqua River Bridge on Interstate 95, on the Maine side of the border. Authorities from both Maine and New Hampshire attempted to negotiate with the man to get him to surrender, resulting in a closure of the bridge for several hours to ensure public safety and secure the area. Unfortunately, attempts at negotiation yielded no success as the man exited his vehicle and brandished a firearm. In self-defense, the officers opened fire at the man, who allegedly fell into the Piscataqua River. 

Discovery of the Child's Body

Following the confrontation, the man’s body was retrieved from the water and he was pronounced dead. In a harrowing turn of events, authorities discovered the remains of an 8-year-old child in the backseat of the man’s vehicle. It was confirmed that the child had sustained gunshot wounds, though it was clarified that these were not inflicted by law enforcement bullets. A spokesperson from the Maine State Police revealed during a news conference that the fatalities involved a "husband, wife, and child."

The New Hampshire Attorney General's office is collaborating with the New Hampshire State Police to investigate the sequence of events leading to these tragic occurrences. In a statement, they assured that further information would be disclosed as it becomes available, with a focus on upholding the integrity of the ongoing investigation.