By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
NEWPORT, N.H. — A juvenile was taken into custody after reportedly discharging a firearm during an altercation with an adult on Whipple Road in Newport.
On Aug. 29 at 10:15 p.m., the Newport Police and Fire Departments responded to multiple 911 calls about an assault with shots fired in the area of Whipple Road. Chief Stephen “Alex” Lee said that the altercation took place in the vicinity of the roadway near the Newport Village Apartments.
“It wasn’t inside an apartment or directly outside an apartment, but in the neighborhood,” Lee said.
Officers arrived at the scene to find an adult male victim who had been physically assaulted, but Lee could not go into detail about the nature of the injuries. The victim was not hospitalized, Lee confirmed, and said he would “not describe them as serious injuries.”
There was also evidence that a firearm had been discharged, as police found shell casings at the scene. Fortunately, nobody was hit by bullets, but the suspects in the assault and discharge of the firearm fled the scene prior to police arriving.
Police spent the next several days conducting witness interviews, and they were able to collect physical and digital evidence to narrow down one juvenile suspect. The suspect was taken into custody for criminal acts related to the assault and discharge of the firearm. Due to it being a juvenile delinquency case being confidential by law, no other information about the identity or charges will be released by authorities.
The Claremont Police Department and New Hampshire State Police assisted in the investigation. Officials say that additional arrests and criminal charges are expected, and that the investigation is ongoing. Lee said it took several days to put together what they had, but if an adult is arrested, more information will be provided in the probable cause affidavit.
“We’ve identified all the people that we believe were involved, but before we are prepared for any more arrests or filing additional charges, we’re just still in the process of gathering evidence,” Lee said.
Anyone with information can contact Detective Sergeant Alexander Marvin at 603-863-3232, or at [email protected].
