House Explodes During Police Shooting

Brentwood, NH - A house in Brentwood, New Hampshire exploded into flames on Monday evening at the scene of an officer-involved shooting. Police are releasing few details, but Brentwood Selectwoman Jane Byrne said an officer was shot by a suspect and then taken to an unknown hospital via MedFlight helicopter in serious condition. She said authorities do not have a location on the suspect at this time. One person was also taken by ambulance to Exeter Hospital, but that person was not suffering from a gunshot wound, hospital spokeswoman Debra Vasapolli said. That patient is being treated in the emergency department, but Vasapolli was not able to provide a condition. "The situation's unfolding," she said. "It's very dynamic. We're prepared but we have no updates about whether or not there will be any further transports at this time." New Hampshire State Police said the incident occurred sometime after 4 p.m. on Mill Pond Road and the state police SWAT team responded to the scene. Brentwood Fire confirmed that multiple companies are at the scene, along with mutual aid from other area towns. Aerial video footage showed a house on fire with firefighters holding back from the scene. At one point, a SWAT team drove away from the driveway of the home, and minutes later the house appeared to explode. Firefighters then began more aggressively fighting the fire, which has since risen to 4 alarms. The home appears to have been mostly burned to the ground at this point. According to Brentwood tax records, the home is owned by Walter T. and Elizabeth B. Nolan, but it is not clear if they had any involvement in Monday's incident. U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who lives 20 miles away in Madbury, sent out a tweet Monday night, saying "Thoughts are with the entire Brentwood community and first responders on the scene." U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte sent out a tweet a short time later, saying "Praying for the safety of all the first responders in Brentwood." Monday's incident comes during National Police Week, and two years and one month after Greenland, N.H. Police Chief Michael Maloney was shot and killed and four other officers shot during a drug raid in nearby Greenland.