MANCHESTER, NH – Police are looking for the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run accident in Windham who allegedly retaliated against an eye-witness who followed him to Manchester, where the hit-and-run driver allegedly attacked the witness, then sped off.
According to a police narrative, 0n September 14 at approximately 6 p.m., officers responded to an area of Kenberma Street for a report of shots fired.
Officer Brian Fleming met Shane Blanchard, 28, in the area of Connecting Road and Brown Avenue. Blanchard told Officer Fleming he had been in Windham earlier where he witnessed a-hit-and run accident. Blanchard said that he was an Army Veteran Medic and had stopped to check on the victim of the accident there when he noticed a bumper left behind by the vehicle which had fled the scene.
Blanchard left Windham, traveling north on Route 93, where he noticed a grey Honda Accord traveling in the same direction. The Honda Accord was missing the front bumper and had front end damage. Blanchard called the NH State Police to report what he knew, and tried to follow the vehicle. The Honda Accord exited the highway in Manchester and sped away in the area of Kenberma Street.
Blanchard lost sight of the vehicle, and proceeded to turn around. The Honda re-appeared, driving head on toward Blanchard’s car, colliding with Blanchard’s vehicle. Blanchard got out of his vehicle, and told police that the suspect drove toward him, striking his car door, causing Blanchard to slide over the hood of the suspect’s car, cracking the windshield.
Blanchard engaged the driver while holding a firearm at waist level. Blanchard said a struggle took place between the two, and the suspect grabbed the firearm from him and tried to pull him into the vehicle. At that time, the gun discharged while both men were holding it, and one round fired into the suspect’s car. The suspect vehicle fled the area. Manchester Police continue to search for the suspect driver and vehicle.
Editor’s note: The story has been updated from its original version to clarify that both men were holding the gun when it discharged, according to information provided by Blanchard.
