Shooting In Warner Leads To Chase, Stops In Concord And Bow

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire State Police are investigating a shooting that began in Warner and led to troopers chasing vehicles south on Interstate 89 Friday. Limited information is available at post time but state police confirmed it was investigating a "shots fired" report around 7:15 a.m. at a home in Warner and then, vehicles driving in a "reckless and aggressive manner" on I-89 South. Troopers chased the vehicles until they split off — with one taking Exit 2 in Concord and the second vehicle driving to Route 3A in Bow.

"Both vehicles (were) seized for processing," according Lt. Chad Lavoie of Troop D.

Lavoie added there appeared to be no threat to the public and no injuries reported.

"NH State Police is confident that those individuals involved with the incident have been identified," he said. "We are still gathering evidence and speaking with those individuals involved as well as those who witnessed the incident."

The first part of the call involved witnesses telling state police dispatch that someone in a Chevrolet Sonic was seen shooting at a Kia near Exit 6 on the southbound side of the highway. Merrimack County dispatch also began taking reports of residents inside of a home in Wilmot shooting at a Chevrolet Sonic. Other witnesses reported the vehicles were involved in a shootout in Warner.

Later, county reported the shooting at the house was in Warner not Wilmot.

State troopers caught up with the vehicles near Exit 4 while other troopers converged at Exit 2 in order to perform a rolling roadblock to keep traffic from the scene while they stopped the vehicles. One vehicle was stopped at the park and ride in Concord near the Troop D state police headquarters while the second vehicle was stopped near Pitco in Bow.

State police asked dispatch to request Concord police to the park and ride to assist and later, Concord dispatch sent the officers over to assist.

Individuals were "taken into custody," troopers told dispatch, but state police did not release any names or charges at post time. Troopers reported finding a firearm in one of the vehicles. Dispatch also reported Concord officers were familiar with a passenger in one of the vehicles due to past history. Warner police also arrived in Concord to secure the firearm, dispatch reported.

Lavoie said more information would be released as the investigation progressed.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any information is asked to call Det. Sgt Eric Shirley of NH State Police Troop D in Concord at 603-223-8805 or email at Eric.Shirley@dos.nh.gov.

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