State: Man Shot To Death Outside Manchester Homeless Shelter

MANCHESTER, NH — On Saturday, Jean Lascelle, 67, was shot outside of 351 Chestnut St. in Manchester.

An autopsy was completed Sunday by Medical Examiner Dr. Derek S. Bumgarner who determined that the cause of Lascelle’s death was a gunshot wound to the head and that the manner of his death was a homicide.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Timothy Johnson, 38, charging him with one count of second-degree murder for knowingly causing Lascelle’s death by shooting him with a firearm, according to the NH Attorney Generals Office and MPD Chief Aldenberg.

Johnson was last seen in front of Chestnut Street at approximately 8:39 a.m. on Saturday and is believed to be on foot. Johnson is considered to be armed and dangerous, and should not be approached.

Johnson has a distinct tattoo on the left side of his lower neck. Photographs of Mr. Johnson from early this morning and at the time he was last seen are attached, as well as a photo of his face.

Anyone with information about Johnson’s current whereabouts is asked to contact the Manchester Police Department at 603-668-8711.

Saturday morning, Manchester fire, AMR, and Manchester police responded to the former Manchester police station on Chestnut Street when they arrived they found Lascelle outside the building and bleeding. He was transported to the Elliot Hospital where he died a short time late.

A Manchester DPW worker who was working in the area called in on his radio notifying dispatch of the shooting, and giving a description and direction the suspect was fleeing.

The building is leased to multiple businesses and organizations including a recent short-term lease to Families In Transition (FIT) to utilize part of the building for a temporary shelter for the homeless.

Family In Transition Director of Marketing and Communications Kyle Chumas issued the statement: "This morning police responded to reports of a shooting at our Winter Emergency Shelter on Chestnut Street. We are currently working with local authorities in regard to this situation. At this time, our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our staff and our participants.

Manchester police detectives were at the scene most of Saturday interviewing people in the area and gathering evidence. An MPD K9 trained in finding ballistics was seen checking the surrounding streets where sources say was the direction a man fled from the scene.

At 4:30 p.m. Saturday a second MPD K9 trained in finding ballistics was on the scene outside the building. Detectives used shovels and rakes to remove snow in the area that the dog was searching.

At 4:45 p.m. a bio-hazard clean up company arrived and was cleaning up a sizable amount of blood visible near the entry to the building, and on the sidewalk in front of the building.

Manchester Police ask anyone with information about this incident to call Manchester Police at 603-668-8711.

Patch will update as more information becomes available from authorities.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news.