Concord Man Shot After Fight About Free State Project Flag

MANCHESTER, NH — A fight about a Free State Project flag led to an early morning shooting in Manchester today that left a Concord man in the hospital, a woman injured with a leg wound, and two men arrested, according to police. Michael Sirois, 22, of Chester, was arrested on Nov. 5, 2016, for first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and second-degree assault with a deadly weapon. Also arrested was Jason Gerry, 21, of Sandown, for second-degree assault, driving while intoxicated, driving without giving proof, and operating after suspension.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Manchester Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

According to police, officers were sent to Armory Street at just before 2:30 a.m. this morning for a report of shots fired and a man injured. Manchester Fire and Rescue teams were at the scene assisting a victim – a 36-year-old man from Concord.

“The resulting investigation revealed that parties allegedly involved in the shooting of (the victim) had fled in a vehicle,” according to Sgt. Ken Loui of the Manchester Police Department. “Responding officers searched the surrounding neighborhoods and located a vehicle that matched the description of the one that had fled.”

Watch the suspects get arrested here:

Police stopped the vehicle and identified the people inside as Sirois, Gerry, and a 20-year-old woman from Raymond, who was bleeding from her leg due to a gunshot wound, according to police. She was immediately taken to the hospital, and was treated and released.

“The ongoing investigation currently indicates that Sirois, Gerry, (the woman) and others had been socializing at the residence of 131 Amory St., and that an argument ensued between Sirois, Gerry, and (the male victim) over a flag that was displayed at the residence, a flag that Sirois found offensive,” according to Loui. “Sirois, Gerry and (the woman) subsequently left the residence as a result of the argument.”

However, due to car trouble, they found themselves back in front of the residence where Sirois and Gerry then engaged in a physical altercation with (the victim).

“This altercation precipitated the shootings of both (victims) by Sirois,” the detective alleged.

Sirois is being held on $100,000 cash bail and will be arraigned on Nov. 7. Gerry was held on $6,000 cash bail and will also be arraigned on Monday. The woman was not charged at this time, according to police.

The investigation into the above matter continues; however, there is no ongoing threat to public safety. If you have any information pertaining to this incident, please contact the Manchester Police Detective Unit at 603-792-5500 or Manchester Police Crimeline at 603-624-4040.

The Free State Project is a libertarian political organization founded about 15 years in an effort to recruit 20,000 liberty minded individuals to move to the state of New Hampshire.