4 People Injured In Drive-By Shooting On I-293 After Rap Gig

MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester police and New Hampshire State Police troopers are investigating what they believe to be a drive-by shooting on Interstate 293 near Brown Avenue in Manchester on Friday.

At just before 2 a.m., a 15-passenger van was shot at on the Interstate in the area and later, arrived at Elliot Hospital with four people who were injured, according to Sgt. Bryan Plamondin, a state trooper detective.

State police verified the van was carrying people that left the Jewell Nightclub in Manchester. People outside the hospital said they had been in the van and were with Dusty Locane and others who were performing at the nightclub.

Kevin Grossi, with Audible Treats, a publicist for Locane, told Patch he was not in the van that was shot. He did perform at the nightclub and he and his crew made it home, safely, without incident.

State police said the van left the club, headed to I-293 south. Near Brown Avenue, the van appears to have been shot at around 1:45 a.m.

Chief Allen Aldenberg of the Manchester Police Department, at a press conference, said an officer working at the Elliot Hospital notified headquarters that a van with multiple people with gunshot wounds had arrived at the Emergency Room. Several NHSP and MPD units responded to the hospital due to the number of people involved and the volatile situation. Elliot Hospital was put on diversion and directing patients to Catholic Medical Center while treating the victims, according to fire dispatch.

Nine people who said they were in the van at the time of the shooting gathered on the lawn outside the ambulance entrance. One woman in the group had a bandaged hand and blood-spattered on her shirt. They verified to reporters they were part of the rap group and were the victims of the drive-by shooting. The van could be seen parked where ambulances usually enter the hospital, surrounded by crime scene tape.

A tow truck arrived at the parking lot and the van was removed. NHSP Troopers escorted the vehicle to Troop B headquarters in Bedford. A large window on the driver's side was shattered and several bullet holes could be seen on the driver's side.

A "be-on-the-lookout” was broadcast to several towns as an “officer safety bulletin.” The BOLO described a white van-style vehicle, “boxy,” and possibly a Dodge with several people in it. Officers were advised to use caution based on the number of people, and unknown weapons.

At 4:45 a.m., Manchester police posted a statement on social media:

Manchester police and New Hampshire State Police are currently investigating a shooting incident that occurred in the early morning hours of July 16. Detectives from both agencies are working jointly on this case due to initial information indicating that the incident occurred in Manchester and on Interstate 293. There does not appear to be any ongoing threat to public safety and updates will be provided when appropriate.

There is no apparent investigatory scene on Brown Avenue where Manchester Fire and AMR were originally dispatched to.

Manchester Police are investigating a second shooting incident that resulted in pursuit, an injured officer, and two arrests. Authorities say it is too early in the investigation to know if the incidents are related. According to Manchester Police people from the van, and the second shooting incident had all been at or in the area of Jewell Nightclub.

This is a developing story, and this will continue to be updated as information becomes available.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the name of a rapper who was in the van that was shot.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news