CONCORD, NH – A security officer was fatally shot on Friday while on duty at a psychiatric hospital in New Hampshire. The suspect behind the shooting was also shot dead by a state trooper assigned to the same facility. The New Hampshire State Police confirmed that all the patients at the hospital were safe during the incident.
Bradley Haas, 63, was the security officer shot during the incident. Haas previously served as the police chief in the neighboring city of Franklin and was currently serving as a security officer for the New Hampshire Department of Safety. The attorney general’s office noted that Haas was at the front lobby entrance of the facility when the shooting occurred at around 3:30 p.m.
Details surrounding the suspect behind the shooting remain undisclosed due to the ongoing nature of investigations. In the aftermath of the shooting, authorities examined a suspicious vehicle parked at the hospital but found it to be harmless. They employed a tactical robot in the search operation, inspecting a U-Haul as shown in videos provided by CNN affiliates.
The hospital is recognized for treating patients suffering from ‘acute mental illness’ according to its official website. Lori Weaver, the Commissioner at New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services expressed her shock and sadness following the incident. She shared her condolences with the victim’s family and colleagues affected by the shooting. While the hospital will remain temporarily closed for visitors, Weaver assured support for both patients and staff to help cope with the tragedy.
Governor Chris Sununu informed through a social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, about the state’s immediate response to handle the situation and the containment of the incident. He emphasized that further details about the incident would be made available as it unfolds.