Two officers shot in New Hampshire; search on for shooter

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Two New Hampshire police officers were shot early Friday and a manhunt is underway for an armed suspect, police in Manchester said.

Police Chief Nick Willard said the two officers were shot at separate locations after 2 a.m., and they are recovering at hospitals and expected to be OK. Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas said the officers, who were not identified, “seem to be fine.”

There was no immediate word on the extent of the officers’ injuries, and no details about the shootings have been released. Several streets were blocked off and police seen were walking around, but they did not appear to be going door-to-door.

Floyd Johnson lives near one of the shooting sites on Manchester’s west side, a mix of older homes converted into apartments and small businesses. He said he awoke to the sound of multiple gunshots at about 2:15 a.m. Seconds later, “all the police swarmed in,” Johnson said.

He said he told his 13-year-old son to get on the floor. Police also told Johnson to stay put, away from the windows.

Johnson said he has lived on the west side all his life, and he has never seen anything like this before.

Willard said police are searching for the suspected shooter, described as a white man with long hair who is wearing a trench coat. A Massachusetts state police helicopter is assisting in the search.

A number of schools in the area were closed Friday, and some residents were told to shelter in place during the search.