A gunman opened fire in a state-run hospital in Concord, New Hampshire, on Friday afternoon, killing Department of Safety security officer Bradley Haas before a state trooper killed him, officials said.
11/18/23 UPDATE: The gunman was identified on Saturday as 33-year-old John Madore.
A gunman opened fire in a state-run hospital in Concord, New Hampshire, on Friday afternoon, killing a Department of Safety security officer before a state trooper killed him, officials said.
The gunman who opened fire in a lobby at New Hampshire Hospital is not being identified at this time, according to a press release from the New Hampshire attorney general's office. They shot one person, who died despite receiving CPR on site, New Hampshire State Police Col. Mark Hall said.
“A state trooper assigned to the hospital and in close proximity immediately engaged, shot and killed the suspect,” Hall said.
The state trooper who killed the gunman was assigned to work at the facility and wasn't hurt. The trooper's name is being withheld pending a formal interview, which is protocol, the AG's office said.
Police had initially said there were multiple victims, but Hall confirmed only two people were hurt.
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"There is no threat to the public and there is no threat to the patients or staff at the hospital," Hall said.
The person who died has since been identified as 63-year-old Bradley Haas, of Franklin, New Hampshire. The New Hampshire attorney general's office said Haas was shot in the line of duty while working security at the hospital's front lobby entrance around 3:30 p.m.
The attorney general described Haas as a father and law enforcement veteran who previously served as chief of the Franklin Police Department. He served in his hometown department for 28 years, beginning as a patrol officer after serving three years as a military police officer in the U.S. Army.
His family has asked for privacy at this time, the attorney general's office added.
Investigators are not releasing the shooter's name as the investigation continues.
Autopsies are scheduled for Saturday in Concord, and an update on the investigation will also be held at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Aerial footage from the scene showed a massive law enforcement response, and a bomb squad was still investigating a suspicious vehicle outside the hospital about three hours after police received a call about an active shooter, at 3:38 p.m.
The attorney general's office said around 9:20 p.m. that investigators had cleared the suspicious box truck near the scene, adding that it was determined the truck poses no safety risk.
Hall didn't immediately have information on a suspected motive for the shooting, noting that the investigation would be ongoing for days.
New Hampshire Hospital is a state-run acute psychiatric hospital. According to its website, the hospital offers inpatient psychiatric care. There were about 150 beds occupied at the facility on Friday, according to state data.
"We are shocked and saddened by today's incident at the New Hampshire Hospital," New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Weaver said at the news conference. "Our hearts go out to the family of the victim."
She said that a call center was being established for families who want to reach out to loved ones receiving care there after the "difficult and unimaginable day," and that support was being made available for both patients and staff. The phone number for the call center, which will remain open until further notice, is 603-271-3004.
“We have teams providing support to patients and staff as long as needed as we work through this tragedy together,” Weaver said.
It was an emotional and terrifying night for so many, including physicians at the hospital and people who live nearby.
One doctor at the hospital was reunited with her parents Friday night, hours after her mom got a frantic phone call that no parents wants to receive.
“She said, 'Mom, I’m ok, don’t worry, but there’s an active shooter in the hospital and I’m in a conference room with some other people,'” said a Massachusetts woman whose daughter is a doctor in the hospital. “I’ve always sympathized with other parents who experience something like that. You just go numb and pray that nothing happens.”
A woman named Jackie who lives across the street told NBC10 Boston there were "about a hundred cops" out there.
“I didn’t know Concord had that many people,” she said. "It’s just crazy how close it is and you would never think that would happen there.”
Sebastian Rainey says he was on scene before some law enforcement arrived.
“They hadn’t officially closed off the entrance and the exit yet so I was telling anybody that had their turn signal on and gesturing them to not go in," he said. "I mean, I tried my best. I did what hopefully anybody else would have done.”
Rainey says police arrived shortly after.
“I saw a number of at least 20 on foot evacuating as many people as they could. They did a great job getting everybody out as quickly as they could,” he said.
Gov. Chris Sununu released a brief statement as the situation was developing Friday: "This afternoon, there was an incident at New Hampshire Hospital, which has been contained. While the scene remains active as the campus is cleared, the suspect is deceased. The state immediately mobilized, and first responders and law enforcement are on the scene. We will provide as many details as possible as this situation unfolds."
Later Friday, he extended his condolences to the family of Haas, saying the security officer "gave his life today protecting the patients and staff at New Hampshire Hospital."
"He will be remembered for his heroism and decades of public service," Sununu added of Haas.
Members of the state’s congressional delegation also released statements of support.
"My heart is with the family and loved ones of NH Department of Safety security officer Bradley Haas," U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster said on social media. "From his 28 years in the Franklin Police Department, including as chief, to his time as a U.S. Army police officer, we are eternally grateful for his lifetime of public service."
Kuster earlier called the shooting “horrifying” in a statement and asked the public to stay away from the hospital while police worked the scene.
"I'm horrified by reports of a shooting at NH Hospital in Concord," U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said. "My heart goes out to all those impacted by this senseless violence."
"Heartbroken to hear that a victim of the shooting at New Hampshire Hospital has died," Sen. Maggie Hassan added. "My thoughts are with their family."
"We're monitoring the shooting at NH Hospital, and I'm grateful for the members of law enforcement who acted quickly and have contained the scene," U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas said.
NBC10 Boston reporters Michael Rosenfield and Malcolm Johnson contributed to this report
