An 18-year-old New Hampshire man was shot after he allegedly stabbed a Massachusetts State Police trooper numerous times at the end of a lengthy pursuit that started in New Hampshire and ended in New Salem, Massachusetts, on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

The man, a Manchester resident who police have not identified, allegedly attacked the 47-year-old trooper with a knife once his car crashed at the intersection of Route 202 and Fay Road, officials told reporters at the scene.

Both the suspect and the trooper, a married father and veteran member of the state police, were hospitalized late Friday afternoon and were expected to survive their injuries, according to First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven Gagne.


In a statement, state police said the man was involved in a motor vehicle crash around noon Friday in Walpole, New Hampshire, where moments after the collision he “allegedly carjacked the vehicle of the other driver involved in the crash, a silver Toyota Camry” and led authorities on a chase into Vermont.

Once he crossed the Massachusetts-Vermont border, he drove down Interstate 91, before he exited the highway to Route 2, Gagne said. The chase ended after the man’s car crashed, according to Gagne.

Just got to New Salem where a motor vehicle pursuit involving a @MassStatePolice trooper end earlier this afternoon. Sources tell 5 Investigates the trooper was stabbed & the suspect was shot #WCVB pic.twitter.com/RXdercotbz — Matt Reed (@MattReedNews) October 19, 2018

Once the car stopped, the man attacked the trooper, stabbing him with a knife multiple times in the head, neck, shoulder, and arm, Gagne said. The trooper, who was not identified, is assigned to the Athol Barracks and has been a member of the state police since 2006, police said.

Gagne said the suspect “sustained one gunshot wound to the torso.” Authorities are still investigating the details surrounding the shooting, he said.

“The investigation will reveal all the facts and circumstances to how this played out,” state police spokesman David Procopio said at a press conference.

Both men were brought to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester for treatment, Gagne said.

“We are relieved by the preliminary reports from UMass on our trooper’s condition,” Procopio said. “He was alert and conscious when he was going into surgery.”


Police anticipated multiple charges would be filed against the suspect, including armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to stop for police, officials said.

“This was just another example of how, on any given day, the routine shift for any state trooper and any police officer can reverse 180 degrees and become anything but routine in a split second,” Procopio said.

The investigation is being carried out by the State Police Detectives Unit assigned to the district attorney’s office, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and the State Police Firearms Identification Section, officials said. The Orange and Erving police departments are assisting with the review.