Police shoot and kill man following standoff at NH bed and breakfast

Police shot and killed a man following an hourslong standoff at a historic bed and breakfast in New Hampshire's White Mountains region early Thursday morning.

The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office said in a 3 a.m. press release that they were responding to a report of a fatal police shooting that occurred early Thursday morning in Plymouth. They said an adult male was fatally shot at the Federal House Inn on Route 25.

The attorney general's office said police responded to the area following a disturbance call at the inn on Wednesday afternoon. When they arrived, officers reported hearing what they believed was the sound of gunshots. A man, who investigators said was armed with a rifle, barricaded himself inside.

The New Hampshire State Police Crisis Negotiation Team and SWAT Unit were called in for help. After hours of attempting to negotiate, the SWAT Unit said they had to fire on the man around 12:50 a.m. He was found in a doorway on the first floor with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead on scene.

The identity of the person who was shot is being withheld pending notification of family, the attorney general's office said. An autopsy will be conducted by the chief medical examiner's office.

No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident, according to authorities.

Six members of the SWAT Unit fired during the incident. Their names are being withheld pending the results of formal interviews, he attorney general's office said.

Plymouth police said in a Facebook post around 9 p.m. Wednesday that they responded around 2:40 p.m. to a report of shots fired with injury in the area of Route 25 and the traffic circle. They said the nearby Mountain Village Charter School and numerous surrounding businesses were placed in lockdown as a precaution, and all children have since been reunited with their families.

In a follow-up post at 3:50 a.m. Thursday, the department added that Route 25 from the traffic circle to Hawkenson Drive in Rumney remains closed. Motorists are urged to seek an alternate route.

New Hampshire State Police had provided several updates on the incident on social media on Wednesday night.

Their first post around 4 p.m. Wednesday said that state police troopers had responded to reports of shots fired and a barricaded subject on Route 25 in Plymouth near the traffic circle. They said the subject was contained and there was no threat to public safety.

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Troopers have responded to reports of shots fired and a barricaded subject on Route 25 in the area of the Plymouth traffic circle. The subject is contained and there is no imminent threat to public safety. Please avoid the area. Additional updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/l6bMquvaJ0

— New Hampshire State Police (@NH_StatePolice) November 6, 2024

In subsequent posts later in the evening, state police said the situation was "active and ongoing" and the road remained closed.