June 2022 Use Of Deadly Force Against NH Man By Cops, Troopers Justified: Attorney General

MANCHESTER, NH — The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office has determined six state and local law enforcement officials who shot a Manchester man at least 11 times after he raised a pistol toward them during a domestic incident were justified.

State investigators released the 38-page report Friday outlining a nine-month investigation into the death of Adnan Husejnovic, 33, by police, on June 19, 2022. At the time, police were sent to a domestic incident in the rear parking lot of Rite Aid on Mammoth Road in Manchester, off Tarrytown Road, after a woman accused him of assault. During the next 90 minutes, there was a standoff with police, who attempted to get Husejnovic to disarm himself.

“While police were continuing their dialogue with him, Mr. Husejnovic raised the pistol toward police, and in response, four officers from the Manchester Police Department and two troopers from the New Hampshire State Police fired on Mr. Husejnovic,” the report stated. “Mr. Husejnovic was struck and fatally wounded by at least 11 gunshots.”

Investigators with the attorney general’s office eye officer-involved shootings and use existing state law to determine if deadly force is appropriate. Based on the investigation, John Formella, the attorney general, deemed the shooting “legally justified.”

According to the investigation, Husejnovic refused to exit a Toyota RAV4 when requested by police just after 12:15 a.m. His spouse, the victim, spoke with officers about the situation. Husejnovic, the report said, accused his wife of assaulting him.

During the interaction, police confirmed Husejnovic was armed.

“While holding the firearm, Mr. Husejnovic continued entering and exiting the RAV4,” the report stated. “Throughout this time, he was seen holding the firearm properly by its grip at least once, with his index finger on the trigger. Officers continued commanding Mr. Husejnovic to put down the firearm and exit his vehicle.”

The gun was identified later as a Hi-Point JHP .45 caliber pistol.

Around 2 a.m., police said Husejnovic opened the SUV door and appeared to be slightly leaning out of a window while facing officers. A police sergeant reported seeing Husejnovic’s finger on the gun trigger and then saw him raise his hand, pointing it at officers. The sergeant then fired five or six rounds into the vehicle. The other officers and troopers then opened fire.

Husejnovic was killed and no one else was injured during the incident.

According to his spouse, the couple was homeless, living out of the SUV in and around Manchester. A family member owned the SUV, but they were making payments for the vehicle.

The day before, she told investigators, Husejnovic went to the methadone clinic but had a dispute with a woman and was kicked out before getting his dose. Later that day, he visited a pawn shop to buy a silver bracelet but did not have the money for it. While parked in the Rite Aid parking lot, she attempted to get some sleep but claimed Husejnovic was “being an a--hole” and saying bad things to her. She claimed he was either high on drugs or under the influence of alcohol. He ripped the rearview mirror off the windshield and punched her in the face. Husejnovic then spit on her, grabbed her, hit her more, and kicked her, the report stated, while threatening to “beat the sh-- out of you and take the car.”

She then called 911 and police came to the scene. After speaking with her, police had probable cause to arrest Husejnovic on multiple assault charges.

Video from the city’s Bearcat dashboard camera and audio evidence was used during the investigation.

The case is one of three officer-involved shootings during the past year in Manchester alone.

The full report will be posted on the NH AG's press site later in the day.

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