Body of 8-year-old discovered in car of suspect shot by police on I-95 bridge between New Hampshire and Maine

A man suspected of killing a woman in New Hampshire was shot and killed by the police on a bridge connecting the state to Maine, authorities reported on Thursday. The incident prompted the closure of the Piscataqua River Bridge on Interstate 95, which reopened after about seven hours. Traffic was redirected to alternate routes as law enforcement conducted their investigation.

The Piscataqua bridge links Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Kittery, Maine, and serves as a vital route for tens of thousands of vehicles daily. According to Attorney General John Formella, the man allegedly committed the murder at a residence in Troy, New Hampshire, before heading towards the bridge. In a news release, Formella stated that the man was confronted by police on the bridge and was shot dead during the encounter. Additionally, an 8-year-old child was found fatally shot inside the man’s vehicle.

The investigation into the officer-involved shooting and the tragic death of the child is ongoing, as details surrounding the events leading to the incident are still being determined. Authorities assured the public that there was no immediate danger, but the bridge remained closed in both directions to facilitate the investigation. The identities of those involved have not been disclosed at this time.

The Piscataqua bridge is a heavily trafficked route, with an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 vehicles utilizing it daily, as per the Maine Department of Transportation. The situation is being closely monitored by law enforcement and local authorities as they work to uncover more information about the tragic events that unfolded on the bridge.