Piscataqua River Bridge closed due to authorities' investigation into deaths

KITTERY, Maine – A man police suspect may have been involved in a New Hampshire murder was shot and killed by police early Thursday morning on a busy highway bridge connecting Maine and New Hampshire.

In addition to the suspected connection to a murder in Troy, New Hampshire, an 8-year-old child was also found shot to death in the man's car, the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office said Thursday.

The Piscataqua River Bridge, which carries Interstate 95 over the river between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine, was closed starting at about 3 a.m. Traffic was backed up on both sides and rerouted until the bridge reopened in both directions at about 9:40 a.m.

The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office issued a news release early Thursday saying the incident apparently began when a man killed a woman overnight at a home in Troy, New Hampshire, about 100 miles away in the western part of the state, before traveling to the bridge.

“Early this morning, an incident occurred involving the adult male on the bridge that resulted in the man being fatally shot. The Maine Attorney General's office is currently investigating this officer-involved shooting incident,” the press release said.

“Police on the bridge also found an 8-year-old child shot to death” in the man's vehicle, the press release said. “The exact circumstances of this incident remain under investigation.”

Public safety officials said there was no danger to the public and no Names were published.

Maine Department of Public Safety officials said a press conference on the incident will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Kittery Police Department to update the public on the case and the status of the investigation.

This situation is evolving and will be updated as information becomes available.

NEWS CENTER Maine has teams on the ground.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard also released a post from the Maine State Police to warn workers of possible delays.

This story will be updated.

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