Services planned for Bradley Haas, officer killed in N.H. hospital shooting

A celebration of life has been scheduled for a 63-year-old former police chief from Franklin, New Hampshire who was shot and killed at New Hampshire State Hospital earlier this month.

The celebration for Bradley Haas[1] will be held at Winnisquam Regional High School, located at 435 W. Main St. in Tilton, at 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov.

27, according to a release from the New Hampshire Department of Safety[2].

Parking will be available at Smitty’s Cinema, located at 630 W. Main St., and shuttles will bring people to and from the service, NHDS said.

While the celebration of life is open to the public, a private burial is reserved for family.

“The heroism and public service of Bradley Haas undoubtedly saved numerous lives,” said Gov. Chris Sununu, who directed that all flags in the state be lowered to half-staff on Monday.

“For decades, Chief Haas went to work each day with the protection of the community as his driver,” Sununu continued. “He died in the services of others — saving others. Valerie and I join with our fellow Granite Staters in remembering his heroism.”

Haas, a New Hampshire Department of Safety security officer, was shot in the line of duty while working security at the front lobby entrance of New Hampshire Hospital in Concord around 3:30 p.m. on Nov.

17, according to a statement from state Attorney General John M. Formella.

He was given CPR at the scene, taken to Concord Hospital and died, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall said at a press conference[5] the same night as the shooting.

A father and law enforcement veteran, Haas was the chief of police in Franklin, New Hampshire, his hometown, until his retirement in 2008.

The 63-year-old Franklin man worked in the town’s police department for 28 years, starting as a patrol officer after serving three years as a military police officer in the United States Army, according to Formella.

After retiring, Haas “continued to dedicate his time to the NH community by serving as a security officer helping and protecting those at the NH State Hospital,” the Franklin Police Department said in a Facebook post[7] on Nov.

18.

Hundreds gathered at a soccer field less than half a mile from New Hampshire Hospital Monday evening for a candlelight vigil to honor the life and service of Haas, The Boston Globe New Hampshire reported[9].

“If that level of sacrifice and service isn’t the definition of heroism, I don’t know what is,” Sununu said according to the outlet.

At 3:38 p.m. Nov.

17, state police received a call about an active shooter at New Hampshire Hospital. Upon entering the lobby, the shooter shot Haas, who later died, Hall detailed at the press conference.

A state trooper, who was assigned to the hospital and was nearby, immediately engaged and shot and killed the shooter.

The shooting was contained to the lobby, according to Hall.

The name of the shooter was not immediately released by authorities to the public.

The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing, the attorney general said in his statement.

References

  1. ^ Bradley Haas (www.masslive.com)
  2. ^ release from the New Hampshire Department of Safety (www.dos.nh.gov)
  3. ^ FBI: Vehicle explosion closes Rainbow Bridge near Niagara Falls; situation ‘very fluid’ (www.masslive.com)
  4. ^ Claudia Lukas’ obituary recalls her ‘zest for life’ after 6-vehicle Mass.

    Pike crash (www.masslive.com)

  5. ^ press conference (www.facebook.com)
  6. ^ Nate Landrebe ID’d as man shot, killed by police during New Hampshire standoff (www.masslive.com)
  7. ^ Facebook post (www.facebook.com)
  8. ^ New Hampshire Hospital shooting: Security officer killed in line of duty (www.masslive.com)
  9. ^ The Boston Globe New Hampshire reported (www.bostonglobe.com)
  10. ^ New Hampshire hospital shooting: Shooter kills 1 before fatally shot by trooper (www.masslive.com)