KITTERY, Maine — Maine and New Hampshire state officials released new information Friday about the tragic events that unfolded early Thursday morning, in which a man was shot and killed by law enforcement on the Piscataqua River Bridge after hours of negotiations.
The man's wife and 8-year-old child were also found dead Thursday, and New Hampshire officials said Friday that "all evidence indicates" he likely killed them.
Maine Department of Public Safety and New Hampshire Department of Public Safety officials issued separate news releases Friday, providing further details about their investigations of the events that unfolded in both states.
A 911 emergency call was made around 2:07 a.m. Thursday by a man who reportedly told public safety officials that he got into a fight with his wife and shot her, New Hampshire officials said Friday in a news release. Police in York, Maine, received the call and notified officials in New Hampshire.
Maine and New Hampshire law enforcement both jumped into action and located the caller, identified as 37-year-old Trent Weston, around 2:30 a.m. on the Piscataqua River Bridge, which carries Interstate 95 over the river and connects Maine and New Hampshire.
Meanwhile, New Hampshire State Police investigated the reported shooting, arriving at the apartment in Troy around 3 a.m., where they found the body of 37-year-old Brittany Weston. An autopsy performed Friday determined she died from multiple gunshot wounds of the head, and her death was ruled a homicide.
The bridge was shut down for about seven hours while law enforcement attempted to negotiate with Trent Weston, but he reportedly got out of his vehicle and raised a firearm. Before he fired, Maine State Trooper Craig Nilsen and two New Hampshire State Police troopers responded with deadly force.
Trent Weston was pronounced dead at the scene.
Law enforcement then found a child deceased in the back seat of Trent Weston's car. An autopsy determined that the child, identified Friday as 8-year-old Benson Weston, also died of multiple gunshot injuries, and his death was ruled a homicide.
"At this time, all evidence indicates that Mr. Weston is responsible for the deaths of both Britanny and Benson Weston," New Hampshire officials said Friday in a news release.
Maine Department of Public Safety officials said the troopers involved in the fatal shooting were placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol, and a use-of-force investigation would be conducted by the Maine attorney general's office.
Investigations are ongoing into the incident.