MILFORD, NH – Milford Police and New Hampshire State Police Major Crime responded to the scene of a fatal shooting in the parking lot of Dollar General in Milford.

Police responded to the Wilton Road location around 8:26 p.m. Thursday for reports of gunshots outside the store, which is located at 70 Wilton Road. Officers arriving on scene found evidence of multiple gunshots in the parking lot.

Further investigation led them to the rear of the building, where they found a deceased man who appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound. Sources indicate the man was found near the dumpster on the left side of the building. However, no official information has been released about the exact location.

The victim, identified as Gage Cassen, 18, of Derry, was transported to Concord to the New Hampshire Chief Medical Examiner’s office, where an autopsy was performed Friday by Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Mitchell Weinberg. Weiberg determined that Cassen’s cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest and the cause of death was homicide.

Senior Assistant Benjamin Agati said the incident was “over within seconds,” and while the investigation is ongoing, it does not appear to be random. Several people were involved, but the exact number is unknown at this time.

One firearm was found at the scene. It is not known if more than one weapon was involved and who may have fired it. Ballistic evidence found at the scene is being analyzed.

Late Friday morning, Agati confirmed that no one was in custody, although there appeared to be no threat to the public. He urged everyone to take the standard safety measures they would take on a regular basis.

The Dollar General store was open at the time of the shooting, but no store employees appear to have been involved in the parking lot incident. Agati also said that police have spoken to many witnesses, but know that there were people at the location at the time of the shooting who left before police arrived. He urged those people to contact investigators and said some may have left out of fear for their safety, which is a normal response.

Friday morning saw state police major crimes investigators collecting evidence and taking photos inside and outside the store.

Three ballistic evidence markers could be seen taped to the side of the building, where it appears damage was caused by bullets.

At the parking lot entrance, several vape-related items were in a sealed container on the ground next to an evidence marker. After investigators photographed the items, they were collected and placed in evidence collection bags.

The researchers are calling on anyone with information to come forward. Anyone who was in the area of ​​Dollar General at 70 Wilton Road in Milford or who saw or heard the gunshots and has not yet spoken to authorities is encouraged to contact the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit at 603- 223-3856 or via email at [email protected]. Tips can also be submitted by calling New Hampshire State Police Headquarters Communications at 603-223-4381.

©Jeffrey Hastings | www.frameofmindphoto.com/news