A fatal shooting incident occurred at New Hampshire’s state psychiatric hospital on Friday, resulting in the death of a security guard and the shooter, according to official reports. The incident took place around 3:30 p.m. in the front lobby of the 185-bed New Hampshire Hospital. The victim, later identified as Bradley Haas, 63, was a state Department of Safety security officer stationed at the front lobby entrance. Despite immediate CPR efforts, Haas succumbed to his injuries at Concord Hospital.
Haas, a resident of Franklin, a small town approximately 20 miles from Concord, had a long-standing career in law enforcement. He served as a police officer for 28 years, eventually rising to the rank of police chief. His death was confirmed by the state attorney general’s office.
The incident did not extend beyond the hospital’s front lobby, and all patients within the facility remained safe. The state trooper who neutralized the shooter was unharmed. In the aftermath of the incident, New Hampshire State Police conducted a thorough search of a suspicious box truck near the scene, which was later deemed to pose no safety risk.
Details about the shooter, potential motives, and other specifics of the attack have not been disclosed. However, authorities have scheduled an update on the investigation for Saturday morning. This incident marks another act of violence in a U.S. hospital, a sector that has been grappling with increasing threats nationwide.
The shooting comes on the heels of a mass shooting in neighboring Maine, where 18 people were killed and 13 others injured. Despite the incident, the hospital continued its operations but was closed to visitors on Friday evening, according to Lori Weaver, commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The New Hampshire Hospital, located in the capital city, is the only state-run psychiatric hospital for adults in the state. It is part of a large state office park that houses multiple state agencies and is in close proximity to the city’s high school and district courthouse. The Department of Safety is responsible for the hospital’s security.
The incident drew reactions from various state officials. U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster described the shooting as “horrifying” and urged the public to avoid the hospital area while the investigation was ongoing. Other members of the state’s congressional delegation also expressed their support. Governor Chris Sununu assured that the state had mobilized immediately and that more details would be provided as the situation unfolds.