×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

AG: Nashua resident William Case shot by police bullet and beanbag

By Dean Shalhoup - Senior Staff Writer | Oct 2, 2019

NASHUA – The overnight standoff involving police and a Hunt Street resident last month ended when one officer wounded the man with a single shot to his torso, while another officer struck him with a beanbag round, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office.

Nashua Officer John Colangelo, a 10-year veteran of the police force, fired his service weapon at the suspect, identified as William Case, 59, who lives at the 21 Hunt St. residence where the standoff took place.

Nashua Officer Mathew Foss, a four-year veteran, fired the beanbag round, which is a non-lethal projectile designed to temporarily stun a suspect. The round also struck Case in the torso, according to the AG’s statement.

Authorities said the exact circumstances surrounding the incident, which began around 10:30 p.m. Sept. 19 and ended the morning of Sept. 20, remain under investigation.

Investigators are also looking into whether the officers’ use of force was justified. They said the report will be released once the investigation is completed.

Case, meanwhile, was taken into custody and later transported to a Boston hospital for treatment of injuries that authorities said were not considered life-threatening.

He remains hospitalized for treatment of “issues unrelated to the physical injuries” he sustained during the standoff, authorities said. They didn’t specify the nature of the issues for which Case is being treated.

Police, in the meantime, have prepared a warrant for Case’s arrest on allegations he threatened a neighbor with a “long gun,” which officials said was either a rifle or a shotgun.

When police arrived, Case allegedly barricaded himself in the residence and refused orders to exit. Neighbors said police tried for hours to contact Case, and that several neighbors were evacuated from their homes during the incident.

Other neighbors said Case is known to police, who have responded to his residence on several occasions to investigate complaints made against him.

Indications were that Case was on the verge of being evicted from the residence, but it is unknown what role, if any, that issue may have played in the alleged threats and overnight standoff.

In an apparently unrelated matter, Nashua police had arrested Case on Sept. 4, charging him with one count each of simple assault, resisting arrest or detention, and theft of services, amount under $1,000. These charges are Class A misdemeanors.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com, or @Telegraph_DeanS.