Henniker Shooting Update: Investigators Eye Out Of Town Suspect

CONCORD, NH — The Merrimack County attorney said a shooting at an early morning party Sunday in Henniker near New England College where three people were injured is still under investigation — but investigators believe they have a suspect. Around 3 a.m., Henniker police and fire and rescue teams were sent to Bridge Street for a report of a shooting in an apartment building near the college. Later, two other shooting victims were found by first responders — leading to a lockdown of the college and surrounding area, due to the fear that an active shooter was targeting college students.

Robin Davis, the Merrimack County attorney, said around 60 people were at a party in an apartment when things went awry.

"A verbal encounter occurred between some of the attendees," Davis said. "Close in time to that, a firearm was shown and later discharged two times. As a result, there were injuries to three individuals."

After the shooting, one person was assisted by EMTs on Bridge Street while two others were found and assisted on the college campus. They were all taken to Concord Hospital for treatment.

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After police realized there wasn't an active shooter on the campus, the lockdown was rescinded.

While not getting into the specifics of the investigation, Davis said officials did not believe the three victims were targeted and they think it was an isolated incident.

"We can say there is no immediate risk to the community," Davis said.

The party was attended by college students, people from out of town, and people from out of state, Davis said. "A majority" of the people, "dozens and dozens," in attendance at the party have been interviewed, she said.

"We are now looking at folks that were at the party but do not live in Henniker or go to the college," she said. "So, we're looking at out of town folks and out of state folks. We may not be able to identify them at this time but we feel pretty confident about the people who were in the home, at the residence, at the time."

Matthew French, the police chief in Henniker, thanked Davis, the New Hampshire State Police, and others for assisting in coordinating the emergency response and investigation — since the department was a small agency. He said while investigators believed it was an isolated incident, the department was stepping up police presence in town and at the college. The college and the department, French said, had "a great working relationship." He added the investigation wouldn't have been going as smoothly as it had without help from the college.

"As we move forward with this, obviously, it is our hope, we can solve this crime in a reasonable manner," French said. "Until then, we will go on with what we have always done … having a presence on campus."

Neither Davis nor French would speak about whether or not drugs or drug dealing were involved in the party or incident — with Davis saying she wasn't going to get into "these other issues."

One of the other incidents in Henniker recently included a riot and second-degree assault incident in May 2019 involving suspects from Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont that is working its way through Merrimack County Superior Court. Five indictments have been issued in that case. Parking lots and spaces around the apartment building where the shooting took place were full of vehicles from New York and New Jersey, a witness reported to Patch.

"But," she said, "any time, I think, you have a college campus, you certainly have a related issue of drugs and alcohol. What I can tell you is that It was a house party, on a Saturday night, with college students involved."

Davis later said the focus of the investigation is on a suspect or suspects who were from out of town.

"We believe that the individuals that were involved and that may have shown the gun were from out of state and or out of town," Davis said. "At this time, we are focused on the individual who had the gun and the people around him."

Anyone in Henniker, New England College, or anyone else, who may have information about the incident is asked to reach out to the New Hampshire State Police Tip Line at 603-MCU-TIPS or email at MCU@dos.nh.gov.

Got a news tip? Send it to me at tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/tonyschinella.