NH troopers who shot, killed Rochester man identified
ROCHESTER — The New Hampshire attorney general on Friday released the names of two state police troopers who he said “discharged weapons” March 8, when Joseph Russell, 36, of Rochester, was killed in a residential neighborhood.
Russell was a suspect in multiple vehicle thefts, according to police. The troopers who fired their weapons were Sgt. Gary Wood and Trooper Jacob Hunt, according to Attorney General John Formella.
Formella said the incident remains under investigation.
“It is anticipated that the report regarding the incident and whether the officers’ use of deadly force was justified will be released once the investigation is completed,” Formella’s statement reads. “No further updates are expected until that report is released.”
At the time of the incident, the attorney general released a state police account of the shooting.
The March statement said police were notified Russell was spotted driving in Rochester and intercepted him on Route 16 in the area of Gooseberry Circle. Police also learned Russell had a firearm, the AG said. Russell abandoned the vehicle he was driving and fled on foot into the Gooseberry Circle residential area.
When Russell spotted law enforcement, he fled again, according to authorities. Law enforcement pursued Russell, issuing several verbal commands to stop and surrender. When he did not comply, a State Police trooper with a K-9 police dog released their K-9 partner to subdue Russell. When the K-9 brought Russell to the ground, law enforcement reported seeing Russell draw a firearm and two state troopers fired bullets at Russell, who died at the scene, according to the attorney general.