Chaos ensued in Exeter, New Hampshire, after gunshots heard near local schools led to a rash of lockdowns yesterday. According to NBC10 Boston, police responded to the sounds emanating from the Henderson-Swasey Town Forest, shortly after spotting four individuals, two who reportedly carried handguns and one masked with a ski mask.
The quartet fled toward a construction development, sending nearby schools into a defensive posture. A man was speedily detained while others leaving the woods on Industrial Drive met with similar fates. As detailed by NBC10 Boston, the apprehended men hail from Massachusetts and bear the names Luis Rosado, 20, from Worcester; Luis Negron, 20, from Lowell; and Xaier Deleon, 19, from Lawrence. Initially charged with resisting arrest, additional charges could adorn their legal woes as the inquiry progresses.
The remaining individual, however, evaded capture and remains unidentified. While extensive efforts have been made, including deploying a cadre of police K9s, a drone, and a helicopter from New Hampshire State Police, confidence is high that the fourth party is no longer in the forest. Concerned citizens with insights on his identity or whereabouts are encouraged to contact authorities or submit tips anonymously.
During the ordeal, local education establishments, including the renowned Phillips Exeter Academy, braced for potential threats with implemented lockdowns. As described by WCVB, a Phillips Exeter Academy student, Jinmin Lee, expressed trust in the school's safety measures, saying, "Our school has really great systems in place. When something like this happens, we have loudspeakers that tell us that we should go on lockdown and that we shouldn't leave buildings and that we should try to close windows and do anything that we can to protect ourselves." Despite the tense situation, there have been no reported injuries.
As the investigation trundles on, a vehicle with Massachusetts plates linked to the incident has been impounded. The circumstances surrounding the gunfire and the intent of the men involved are still shrouded in obscurity as more information is expected to surface in the days to come.
