AG Releases Photos, Video, Audio From NHSP Trooper Involved Shooting

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office has released a number of investigatory elements from the May 19, 2017, New Hampshire State Police trooper shooting of a car theft suspect from Vermont on I-89 in Hopkinton. The materials – 911 dispatch audio as well as photos and video from a private citizens’ cellphone camera – released to the press after a NH RSA 91-A right-to-know request. Geoffrey W.R. Ward, an assistant attorney general, said in a statement that both the Merrimack County Attorney’s Office and the suspect – Bryan Evans, 31, of Quechee, VT – were given the opportunity to file a court order to prevent the release of the materials and they choose not to.

Some of the audio and video was redacted, Ward noted, to protect private citizens who called 911 as well as the faces of people caught on video. Six photos that featured private citizens were also not released, he noted.

Video of the shooting captured by private citizens is below:

Back in May, the NH AG’s Office determined that the shooting by police was justified and filed formal charges against Evans.

Audio of the 911 calls is below:

The incident involved a reported stolen vehicle out of Vermont that state police picked up on I-89 South in New London while other troopers quickly staged spike strips attempting to stop the vehicle. Evans reportedly did not immediately stop but eventually pulled over in the breakdown lane near Exit 6 in Hopkinton, the NH AG's Office stated.

After the stop, Evans allegedly refused to show his hands and kept his right hand concealed in his jacket. Both state troopers and local officers had their guns drawn on Evans, repeating commands, according to a report.

“Evans then escalated the situation by telling (a) trooper that if he released his dog, the trooper was a dead man or words to that effect,” according to a preliminary report. “Evans continued to refuse the officers’ orders to show his hands. Instead, Evans quickly pulled his hand out of his jacket and pointed his hands in a two-hand gun-style fashion at the officers.”

A New London Police officer fired one shot from a rifle but reportedly missed Evans; another trooper attempted to shoot Evans but his gun malfunctioned and did not fire. The trooper involved in the beginning of the pursuit then shot at Evans twice hitting him once in the leg. After being shot, Evans reportedly jumped back in the vehicle and drove away. He then allegedly quickly stopped again and was taken into custody by police.

Evans was taken to Concord Hospital for treatment and charged with felony receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a propelled vehicle, three counts of criminal threatening, and disobeying an officer. He was later taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

About a week after the incident, the DailyUV.com reported that Evan’s mother had dropped him off at the Lebanon Police Station that afternoon in an effort to get him to seek help addressing his alleged heroin problems that she described as in alarming downward spiral. An hour later, he returned to her home, allegedly smashed his way into the house, stole her car keys, and headed to Boston in what she believed was a trip to score heroin.

Last month, according to the Valley News, Evans pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces in Vermont including burglary, grand larceny, unlawful mischief, petty larceny, and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Evans is due back in court in New Hampshire on Aug. 2.

As part of the New Hampshire case, state police’s major crime unit has been gathering witness interviews, audio and video recordings, and pictures of the incident since there were no police issued recording devices that recorded the incident. An AG report stated that footage captured by private citizens have been reviewed and support the officers’ account of the shooting incident.