Vermont Public is independent, community-supported media, serving Vermont with trusted, relevant and essential information. We share stories that bring people together, from every corner of our region. New to Vermont Public? Start here.

© 2024 Vermont Public | 365 Troy Ave. Colchester, VT 05446

Public Files:
WVTI · WOXM · WVBA · WVNK · WVTQ · WVTX
WVPR · WRVT · WOXR · WNCH · WVPA
WVPS · WVXR · WETK · WVTB · WVER
WVER-FM · WVLR-FM · WBTN-FM

For assistance accessing our public files, please contact hello@vermontpublic.org or call 802-655-9451.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Explore our coverage of government and politics.

Suspect In Custody After 70-Year-Old Woman Shot At Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital

Outside view of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Ken Gallager
/
WikiCommons
On Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, police responded to reports of an active shooter at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. The hospital is pictured above in a photo from October 2015.

A 70-year-old woman is dead and her son is in custody after New Hampshire police responded to reports of an active shooter Tuesday at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.

Update 8:45 p.m. New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said Travis Frink, 49, of Warwick, R.I. is in custody on first degree murder charges after allegedly shooting his mother at the hospital.

"The purpose of Mr. Frink's visit to the hospital today was to kill his mother," MacDonald said at an evening news conference at the Lebanon police department.

MacDonald said more than one shot was fired and 70-year-old Pamela Ferriere of Groton, N.H. is dead.

"Today was an incredibly stressful day and a tragic day for the affected family," said Dartmouth-Hitchcock CEO Joanne Conroy. "We had the best outcome possible, however, because our staff has done active shooter training."

Updated 7:29 p.m.

The Valley News is reporting that New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said that the individual in custody was a member of the victim's family and that the shooting occurred in an intensive care unit at the medical center.

Original Story

Just before 4 p.m., Dartmouth College Department of Safety and Security sent an email update saying they'd learned the active shooter suspect was in custody. The Valley News had also previously reported this development.

At a late afternoon news conference, MacDonald said local police received reports of a shooting at about 1:25 p.m. at the Level 4 intensive care unit. He said the incident was over, and a suspect was apprehended, but would not say if anybody was shot. Officials said they would provide more information later this evening at the Lebanon, N.H. police department.  

An email from the hospital sent earlier Tuesday afternoon said the Dartmouth-Hitchcock campus is on lockdown, a shelter in place order is in effect, and Hanover and Lebanon police are on the scene.

The email advises people to: “evacuate the main campus, following your department protocols. If you feel your current location is unsafe, shelter in place. Follow your supervisors' directions. Incident Command has been convened. If you are outside of the building, do not go back inside until the alert has been called off.”

Just after 3 p.m., the hospital tweeted that police were still on the scene.

Update 5:37 p.m. This post has been updated with information from an afternoon news conference.

Update 4:42 p.m. This post and its headline has been updated to reflect communication from the Dartmouth College Department of Safety and Security about a suspect being in custody.

Update 3:20 p.m. This post has been updated to include additional reporting from the Valley News and from the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Twitter account.

John worked for VPR in 2001-2021 as reporter and News Director. Previously, John was a staff writer for the Sunday Times Argus and the Sunday Rutland Herald, responsible for breaking stories and in-depth features on local issues. He has also served as Communications Director for the Vermont Health Care Authority and Bureau Chief for UPI in Montpelier.
Latest Stories