NH Attorney General Rules Pelham Police Shooting of Veteran Justified

TL;DR: New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella concluded that Pelham officers acted within the law when they shot a 33‑year‑old veteran during a mental‑health crisis.

Context On May 16, 2025, Pelham police responded to a 911 call reporting an intoxicated veteran threatening suicide with a loaded handgun. The veteran, a former Navy sailor, was inside his girlfriend’s apartment when officers arrived. Over the next hour, negotiations failed, the veteran fired eight rounds at the door, and eventually exited the apartment still armed.

Key Facts - Sergeant Steven Russo fired four live rounds, Officer Joseph Sanchez fired two, and Corporal Michael Kasiske discharged five beanbag rounds, a non‑lethal projectile designed to incapacitate. - The veteran survived but sustained three gunshot wounds: two to the pelvis and one to the stomach. - Attorney General Formella’s office, which reviews every police use‑of‑deadly‑force incident, determined the officers’ actions met the legal standard that lethal force is permissible only when officers reasonably believe their lives or others’ lives are in danger. - The veteran had recently been denied mental‑health services by the Department of Veterans Affairs, had been drinking, and told investigators he felt terrified of being shot. - Body‑camera footage showed the veteran firing a single shot toward officers before dropping and then re‑picking up his firearm, prompting Russo’s decision to fire.

What It Means The ruling reinforces New Hampshire’s legal threshold for police use of deadly force: officers must have a reasonable belief of imminent danger. While the decision clears the officers of criminal liability, it does not address the adequacy of mental‑health outreach that preceded the incident. The case highlights ongoing challenges in coordinating veteran services and law‑enforcement response during crises. Watch for any legislative proposals aimed at improving crisis intervention protocols and expanding access to veteran mental‑health care.