Hooded Man Shoots 4 People At Graduation Party In Manchester: Update

MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester police are investigating a shooting and stabbing on Ahern Street in the Bakersville neighborhood of the city on Saturday.

Manchester Fire, police, and AMR Ambulance were dispatched to 129 Ahern Street for gunshot victims at 4:50 p.m. Due to the report of multiple victims, additional ambulances and fire personnel were dispatched.

Police worked to secure the scene before firefighters, and medics could assist the wounded. Shortly after police arrived, they told fire and EMS the location was secure so they could enter. Ambulances from Bedford and Goffstown were dispatched for additional resources.

An additional call came in for a gunshot wound victim at Elliot Hospital’s Urgent Care at River’s Edge on Queen City Avenue. Sources indicate the gunshot victim at the River’s Edge was brought there from the Ahern Street incident.

Manchester police said four young adults suffered gunshot wounds. All victims were being treated at a local hospital and expected to survive.

Initial reports indicate two males in hoods approached the gathering, and at least one of them fired a weapon. The two males were seen fleeing the area. This incident does not appear to be random at this point in the investigation, police said.

People at the scene indicated a college graduation celebration at the address where the shooting occurred. An online flyer for the celebration matched the address and time of the shooting.

The buildings on Ahern Street are part of the Elmwood Gardens housing complex and the Manchester Housing Authority.

Due to having four shooting victims, this incident may be New Hampshire's first mass shooting in a quarter of a century.

Manchester Police Lt Matthew Barter gives update on Saturdays shooting:

A mass shooting is commonly defined as an incident where four or more people were shot, not including the perpetrator. According to the Rockefeller Institute of Government, a public policy think tank, between 1966 and 2016, New Hampshire never had a mass shooting incident. GVPedia, an organization that collects gun data, said between 2013 and 2019, New Hampshire had no mass shootings.

However, Carl Drega killed two New Hampshire State Police troopers, a judge, and a newspaper editor in Colebrook in late August 1997. Four other people were injured in the incident.

Manchester police detectives are actively investigating this shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call the Manchester Police Department at 603-668-8711 or the Manchester Crimeline at 603-624-4040. Tips can also be anonymously submitted at www.manchestercrimeline.org.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news