Police shot and killed a man early Thursday morning on the Piscataqua River Bridge and then found the body of his 8-year-old son inside his car, officials said.The shooting was the end of a chain of events that started when police received a call from a man saying he killed his wife at their home in Troy. Maine State Police Col. Bill Ross said the 911 call was received in York, Maine, at about 2:07 a.m. and the man said he had a fight with his wife.When police arrived at the home, the woman was found dead, and their 8-year-old son was missing.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<Sources told News 9 Investigates that police were able to track the man's cellphone to the area of Kittery, Maine. At about 2:30 a.m., Kittery police found the vehicle in the southbound lane in the middle of the bridge, Ross said.New Hampshire State Police and Maine State Police responded to the area, and I-95 was shut down. Police began negotiating with the man, but Ross said the negotiations were unsuccessful.>> Full video: Officials give update on I-95 shootingRoss said the man left the vehicle and raised a firearm. He said a Maine state trooper and two New Hampshire troopers fired at the man, who then fell from the bridge. The Coast Guard was able to pull his body from the water almost immediately, Ross said."The male subject was located deceased in the water below the bridge and was declared dead at the scene," Ross said. "He fell from the bridge."After the man was killed, police found the body of the 8-year-old boy in the car, Ross said. The child had been shot, but Ross said his death had nothing to do with the officers' use of deadly force."This death is not associated with the officers' use of deadly force," Ross said. "I want to stress this right now that the child's death is not associated with the police officers' use of deadly force today."As is standard procedure, the troopers are on administrative leave while the shooting is under investigation, Ross said.No identities have been released. The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office said an autopsy for the woman is scheduled for Friday morning.The bridge was shut down for hours before and during the morning commute while the situation unfolded. It has since reopened, and traffic was once again flowing smoothly.The New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit was at the family's home on Monadnock Street in Troy. Neighbors said the family had recently moved there."They just barely moved in a month or month and a half ago," said neighbor Kay Davidson. "We kept saying we’ve got to go meet them, got to go meet them. Never got there.”The bridge, which stretches between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine, was reopened to traffic at about 9:40 a.m.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. —
Police shot and killed a man early Thursday morning on the Piscataqua River Bridge and then found the body of his 8-year-old son inside his car, officials said.
The shooting was the end of a chain of events that started when police received a call from a man saying he killed his wife at their home in Troy. Maine State Police Col. Bill Ross said the 911 call was received in York, Maine, at about 2:07 a.m. and the man said he had a fight with his wife.
When police arrived at the home, the woman was found dead, and their 8-year-old son was missing.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
Sources told News 9 Investigates that police were able to track the man's cellphone to the area of Kittery, Maine. At about 2:30 a.m., Kittery police found the vehicle in the southbound lane in the middle of the bridge, Ross said.
New Hampshire State Police and Maine State Police responded to the area, and I-95 was shut down. Police began negotiating with the man, but Ross said the negotiations were unsuccessful.
>> Full video: Officials give update on I-95 shooting
Ross said the man left the vehicle and raised a firearm. He said a Maine state trooper and two New Hampshire troopers fired at the man, who then fell from the bridge. The Coast Guard was able to pull his body from the water almost immediately, Ross said.
"The male subject was located deceased in the water below the bridge and was declared dead at the scene," Ross said. "He fell from the bridge."
After the man was killed, police found the body of the 8-year-old boy in the car, Ross said. The child had been shot, but Ross said his death had nothing to do with the officers' use of deadly force.
"This death is not associated with the officers' use of deadly force," Ross said. "I want to stress this right now that the child's death is not associated with the police officers' use of deadly force today."
As is standard procedure, the troopers are on administrative leave while the shooting is under investigation, Ross said.
No identities have been released. The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office said an autopsy for the woman is scheduled for Friday morning.
The bridge was shut down for hours before and during the morning commute while the situation unfolded. It has since reopened, and traffic was once again flowing smoothly.
The New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit was at the family's home on Monadnock Street in Troy. Neighbors said the family had recently moved there.
"They just barely moved in a month or month and a half ago," said neighbor Kay Davidson. "We kept saying we’ve got to go meet them, got to go meet them. Never got there.”
The bridge, which stretches between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine, was reopened to traffic at about 9:40 a.m.
