Queen City Teen Accused Of Shootings On Hampton Beach; Held On Preventative Detention: Follow-Up

HAMPTON, NH — A man from the Queen City is facing several felony charges after shootings on Hampton Beach Tuesday night.

Around 8:30 p.m., officers were sent to the area of Ocean Boulevard and Ross Avenue for a report of shots fired. Other agencies also came to assist. When they arrived, they found one person who had been shot. They were treated with non-life-threatening injuries and taken by Seabrook fire and rescue teams to an area hospital.

During the investigation, police were able to get a description of the motor vehicle whose occupants were involved in the incident, Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno said. A BOLO (“be-on-the-lookout”) call was issued to other agencies around the state.

“A short time later,” Reno said, “the Hampton Police Department was made aware that the suspect vehicle had been located on Route 101 westbound. The New Hampshire State Police will issue a separate press release on the circumstances surrounding that incident. The Hampton Police Department became aware that two additional individuals had self-transported to area hospitals with apparent non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.”

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Hampton Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the process for requesting the removal of a name from New Hampshire Patch police reports.

Several law enforcement agencies assisted with the investigation, securing the scene for processing and interviewing witnesses. State troopers and Portsmouth police “provided valuable assistance with crime scene processing and investigative services,” Reno said.

Later, a suspect, Divaris O. Ruiz, 18, of Manchester, was found and arrested on Route 101. He was charged with four counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon and four counts of first-degree assault with a firearm, all felonies. Ruiz was held on preventative detention and was arraigned on Wednesday.

Reno said the area was closed to traffic until around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning. He said despite this incident, Hampton was a safe location to live due to a strong public safety presence and community support. Reno said the public could expect a continued significant police presence at the beach to ensure safety.

“I’m thankful for the dedication and exhaustive work that has been put forth by our officers, investigators, prosecutors, and public safety partners,” Reno said. “This collaboration allowed a violent situation to be quickly resolved, with those responsible being held accountable, and peace and security being restored quickly. This type of behavior will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows.”

Anyone with information about this incident was asked to contact the Hampton Police Department at 603-929-4444. Anonymous tips can be made through the Crimeline for the Hamptons at 603-929-1222. Follow the Hampton Police Department on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@HamptonNHPD).

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