Portsmouth Police: Man Took His Own Life at Hotel

Update, 9:27 p.m. Portsmouth Police issued the following statement:

On March 20, 2015 at approximately 3 p.m., Portsmouth Police was asked by Cambridge MA Police to assist them in the search for a wanted subject out of their town who was possibly armed.

Detectives from the Portsmouth Police Department, through their investigation, located the subject at a room at America’s Best Inn located at 383 Woodbury Avenue. Members of the Seacoast Emergency Response Team and the New Hampshire State Police, assisted Portsmouth Police in evacuating and securing the area.

Police made phone contact with the subject who quickly ended the conversation. Shortly after, the subject opened a window to his room and was immediately challenged by officers on the perimeter. The subject then retreated back into the room and a gunshot was heard coming from the room.

Police tried to re-engage the subject but got no response. The State Police used a robot to look into the room and it was soon determined that the subject was deceased by what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The scene remains under investigation.

At this time we are not identifying the deceased until the Cambridge MA Police Department is able to notify the next of kin.

Update, 7:17 p.m. Police are reporting that all roads that were blocked off in the area of America’s Best Inn have been re-opened to normal traffic flow. The situation has been resolved. Portsmouth NH Patch will update when more information becomes available.

Update, 6:55 p.m. Chief DuBois is reporting on Twitter that ”units still still working the problem at the hotel.” According to scanner chatter, officers can be heard moving around areas of the hotel and attempting to divert traffic in an efficient manner.

Update, 6:02 p.m. Portsmouth Police are asking anyone who may live in the area around America’s Best Inn to “stay away from walls and windows” due to an active shooter scene at the hotel.

Police will be shutting down the bypass around the hotel.

Police Chief Stephen DuBois reported on Twitter that at least one shot has been fired at the hotel. He also stated that, “If you heard a loud bang that was us,” as as SWAT team prepares at the scene.

Below is the original post

Portsmouth Police have issued an alert on Facebook asking residents to stay out of the Route 1 Bypass area for an “ongoing call with a man with a gun.”

According to the notices, police are warning that there is “an active scene on Woodbury Ave. at America’s Best Inn. Please avoid this area if at all possible until further notice.”

Photo credit: NH1 on Twitter.

Portsmouth NH Patch will update this post with more information as it becomes available.