A desperate gunman turned a quiet New Hampshire family home into a warzone, wounding a cop before police ended his rampage in a dark woods shootout just hours later.
Story Snapshot
- 38-year-old Matthew J. Masse shot family from a second-floor window, then wounded a Nottingham officer.
- Massive 9-hour manhunt locked down rural roads with K-9s and tactical teams.
- Police located Masse at 10:06 p.m.; he fired first, officers returned fire, killing him instantly.
- Prior arson warrants signaled escalating family violence; no civilian casualties reported.
Escalation from Arson Warrant to Deadly Ambush
Matthew J. Masse, 38, from Raymond, New Hampshire, carried active felony warrants for attempted arson at his family home since Thursday, April 2. Police searched relentlessly, deploying special operations Friday without success. Raymond Police Chief Michael Labell directed around-the-clock efforts. This built-up tension exploded Saturday when Masse grabbed a rifle. Domestic disputes turned lethal, targeting family first. Law enforcement faced a volatile suspect in familiar terrain.
Shooting Ignites Multi-Agency Manhunt
Officers arrived at Ham Road around 1:30 p.m. on April 4 after reports of Masse firing from a second-floor window at family members. He shifted aim to responders, striking a Nottingham Police Department officer with non-life-threatening injuries. The wounded officer reached a hospital quickly. Masse bolted into adjacent woods, prompting shelter-in-place orders for Ham and Nottingham roads. New Hampshire State Police, Raymond PD, K-9 units, and tactical teams formed a tight perimeter in Rockingham County’s rural woods.
Final Gunfight Ends the Threat
State Police spotted Masse near Ham Road around 9:45 p.m. Tactical teams advanced for arrest. Masse opened fire with his rifle; officers returned shots, striking him fatally. They found him deceased upon approach. Authorities recovered his long gun nearby. No additional injuries occurred among officers or residents. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella confirmed the sequence: suspect fired first, justifying defensive response under protocol.
From a conservative viewpoint, police actions align with common sense self-defense. Facts show Masse initiated every exchange, endangering lives. Rapid coordination neutralized him without bystander harm, upholding public safety over hesitation.
Investigation and Community Aftermath
Sunday, April 5, officials terminated the manhunt and secured the scene. An autopsy scheduled early that week will confirm cause of death, expected as gunfire. Formella’s office probes the officer-involved shooting per standard procedure, withholding officer names until interviews conclude. Masse’s mother spoke briefly to media, but motives remain unclear pending full review. Raymond and Nottingham residents endured brief disruptions from road closures and alerts.
Short-term impacts hit the injured officer’s recovery, family trauma, and strained local resources. Long-term, this underscores effective interoperability in rural policing. Small-town shock lingers, but swift resolution prevented wider chaos. Ongoing probes may reveal if accomplices existed, informing future domestic violence responses.
Sources:
New Hampshire suspect who shot officer and triggered massive manhunt killed in police gunfight
Police kill man who shot officer in Raymond, New Hampshire, attorney general says
NH police identify ‘armed and dangerous’ suspect
