State Police fatally shoot suspect in Rochester, N.H.

Authorities are investigating after State Police fatally shot a man in Rochester, N.H., Friday night who was allegedly connected to multiple auto thefts, New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella’s office said.

The shooting occurred in a wooded area off Gooseberry Circle, a residential neighborhood in Rochester, Formella’s office said in a statement issued early Saturday.

The man was identified as Joseph Russell, 36, of Rochester, the statement said.

On Friday afternoon, Rochester police issued an alert saying that they were looking for Russell who was a person of interest in " a string of motor vehicle thefts in both Rochester and Lebanon, ME over the past two days.”

“Based on witness statements, Russell is believed to be armed and dangerous,” and the public was advised not to approach him, Rochester police said.

Russell was also wanted on other unrelated charges, police said.

Police received information around 8 p.m. Friday that Russell was spotted driving in Rochester and intercepted him on Route 16, Formella’s office said.

“Police also learned that Russell had a firearm. Russell abandoned the vehicle he was driving and fled from police on foot into the Gooseberry Circle residential area,” the statement said.

Rochester police and New Hampshire State Police spotted Russell walking in between residences. Russell spotted the officers and again fled, the statement said.

Police pursued Russell, “issuing several verbal commands to stop and surrender,” Formella‘s office said.

When Russell did not stop, a trooper released a K9 to subdue him, the statement said.

“When the K-9 brought Russell to the ground, law enforcement reported seeing Russell draw a firearm and two troopers fired bullets at Russell, who died at the scene,” Formella’s office said.

An autopsy on Russell conducted Saturday determined he died from multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was homicide, Formella’s office said late Saturday afternoon.

The state medical examiner’s office defines homicide as the killing of one person by another. Per protocol in the use of deadly force, the troopers who fired at Russell will not be identified until formal interviews have occurred, the statement said.

There were no injuries to police officers, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety.

The investigation is ongoing.