Investigators Eyeing Murder-Suicide In Pembroke Double-Fatal Shooting: Follow-Up

PEMBROKE, NH — The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office is investigating the deaths of a woman and a boy in Pembroke early Friday morning.

Around 1 a.m., Pembroke police, Concord Fire and rescue teams, Concord police, Merrimack County Sheriff’s deputies, and New Hampshire State Police troopers were sent to Pembroke Hill Road for a report of two shootings. First responders met with the resident who called 911 after hearing gunshots inside their house.

“A witness at the scene reported hearing two gunshots, then going to the bedroom to find both mother and child injured,” Michael Garrity, a spokesman for the department, said.

The victims were identified later as Julia Byrne, 26, and her son, Blake Byrne, 3. Blake Byrne was taken to Concord Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Julia Byrne was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials said there did not appear to be any threat to the general public in connection with the deaths, with investigators believing the incident was a possible murder-suicide.

News 603 posted a video from the scene Friday morning on Facebook.

Assistant Chief Medical Examiner Abigail Alexander conducted autopsies on the mother and son on Friday. She determined Julie Byrne’s cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the head and her manner of death is pending, according to an update. Blake Byrne’s cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of his death was homicide.

Here is a second video posted by News 603:

Concord NH Patch will update this post when more information becomes available.

A free, 24/7, confidential service can provide people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress or those around them with support, information, and local resources. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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