A man has died after an officer-involved shooting in Epping, New Hampshire, according to Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald and New Hampshire State Police Colonel Christopher J. Wagner.
An investigation is underway to determine exactly what happened that led to the incident.
Authorities say they responded to a call over erratic driving in the area of Exit 6 on Route 101 early Saturday evening.
Police say a New Hampshire state trooper saw the man in his truck stopped off Exit 6 and approached him. According to officials, an encounter took place between the two of them that caused the trooper to fire his gun at the driver.
"I heard the command. I heard somebody say, ‘Drop it,’ and then just a rapid fire of bullets," James Dow said. "When I came back out, there was cruisers everywhere, ambulance and cruisers."
The driver of the truck, identified as 40-year-old Walter Welch Jr., died at the scene with a gun found in his hand.
Police say the trooper was evaluated at a local hospital and released, and is now on administrative leave.
Welch's sister, Tonya Hayes, spoke to Boston 25 News, and said her brother was a hardworking man, and a loving uncle to her son.
"My brother was the strongest, most kind-hearted man that I know," Hayes said. "If anyone needed anything at any point in time, he would give his shirt off his back."
Hayes said she had spoken to her brother a couple hours before the incident, and said he wasn't looking for trouble.
"We’re in New Hampshire, everyone has a gun," Hayes said. "My brother was in traffic going home to eat food. All he did was work and go home, and that is exactly who he is. He’s just a kind person, and he wouldn’t hurt a fly."
Police haven't said whether they believe Welch pointed or fired his gun at the trooper.
"He loved his guns, and he knew how to use them," Hayes said. "He was responsible. I know that my brother is innocent in this."
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Police are asking for the public's help as the investigation continues. Because New Hampshire state troopers don't wear body cameras, there is no surveillance video of the shooting.
Anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or anything related to it is asked to call New Hampshire State Police.