Jamie Bell, 42, fatally shot a woman, their 18-month-old daughter, and wounded another child before he was found dead hours later of an apparent suicide on the bank of the Merrimack River, the New Hampshire attorney general’s office said. (New Hampshire State Police)
FRANKLIN, New Hampshire– According to the New Hampshire attorney general’s office, a tragic incident occurred where a man shot and killed a woman, along with their 18-month-old daughter.
Another child was also injured in the incident. The man was later found dead on the bank of the Merrimack River, and it appears to be a case of suicide.
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The exact details surrounding the incident and the motive behind it are currently under investigation.
The man, Jamie Bell, 42, was seen fleeing a home in Franklin on Saturday afternoon, Assistant Attorney General Adam Woods said during an evening news conference. Neighbors said they had heard gunshots.
Police arrived at the home to find Nicole Hughes, 35, and Ariella Bell, her daughter with Jamie Bell, shot to death, Woods said.
Woods said Hughes and Jamie Bell were “intimate partners.” He provided no further details on their relationship.
Hughes’ 5-year-old daughter from another relationship had a gunshot wound to her arm and a cut on her back, Woods said. She was taken to a hospital in Massachusetts. Her injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.
After the incident, law enforcement authorities initiated an extensive search for Bell, who was initially considered a person of interest.
The search efforts involved both ground personnel and aerial support from helicopters.
The New Hampshire attorney general’s office had issued a warning that Bell should be considered armed and dangerous, leading the urgency of the search.
Autopsies on Bell, Hughes and their daughter were scheduled Sunday.
