Suspicious Death Under Investigation At Popular Manchester Park

MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester fire and AMR ambulance responded to a call for an unresponsive man at Derryfield Park on Bridge Street in Manchester on Sunday.

At about 7:40 a.m., firefighters reported the person was dead and Manchester police responded to the scene. Police immediately cordoned off large portions of the park with crime scene tape and several cruisers were stationed at entrances to the park, playground, and several sports fields, to keep visitors away from the crime scene.

Detectives were seen going door to door on Bridge Street and several streets off of Bridge Street. A person who arrived to set up one of the sports fields was told the scene was being secured by police to search for shell casings. Neighbors who gathered at the park watching investigators said several of them heard what they thought were firecrackers earlier Sunday morning. They were unsure if that had actually been gunfire.

In a press release, with limited details, Manchester Police and Attorney General John Formella said officials were investigating the suspicious death of a man in Manchester.

“The male was found this morning in the area of Al Lemire Park at Derryfield Park off Bridge Street," Chief Allen Aldenberg said. “The investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released as it becomes available while protecting the integrity of the investigation.”

Several people gathered at the edge of the crime scene tape identifying themselves as family and friends of the victim. In emotional pleas, they asked to see the victim and were turned away while investigators worked the crime scene. A detective spoke to some of the family members explaining it was early in the investigation and it would be several hours before access was available. The family members said the man was in his early 20s and was a Manchester resident.

Police placed evidence markers, photographed the scene, and gathered evidence that was brought to the crime scene truck. A body could be seen on the hill leading to the sports field and to the left of the playground.

As additional information becomes available this article will be updated

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news