NH Man Killed During Officer-Involved Shooting Was Hospital VP

CONCORD, NH — The death of a Walpole man on Saturday during a domestic call that later became an officer-involved shooting is being investigated by state officials.

Around 11:15 p.m., law enforcement agencies were sent to County Road in Walpole for a report of a domestic violence incident. New Hampshire State Police were the first to arrive, a report stated. One resident of the home met with troopers outside while an encounter ensued with a resident inside the home.

“During the encounter,” Benjamin Agati, a senior assistant attorney general, said, “one trooper discharged his weapon.”

Christopher Tkal, 57, was killed at the scene. Agati said a loaded rifle was found underneath his body.

An autopsy was performed on Saturday with Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Mitchell Weinberg determining Tkal’s cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was a homicide.

“As used by the office of the chief medical examiner, homicide is defined as the killing of one person by another,” Agati said.

No one else was injured during the incident. None of the troopers or others had body or cruiser cameras installed.

“The exact circumstances surrounding this incident remain actively under investigation,” Agati said. “Additional information will not be released until after the trooper’s formal interview, which is expected to take place during this coming week.”

Tkal, according to information online, was the vice president of quality, patient safety, and surgical services at Cheshire Medical Center, a division of Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

Heather Atwell, a communications manager for the marketing and communications department at the Cheshire Medical Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, confirmed Tkal was employed at the center for the last seven years.

“Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and colleagues,” she said. “On-site counseling services for staff members is available.”

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