3 men arrested, fourth at large after gunshots reported in NH forest, police say

A report of gunshots in a New Hampshire forest led to the arrest of three men and a manhunt for a fourth that’s prompted local schools to be locked down, police said Tuesday.

Officers at the scene saw four people in the Henderson-Swasey Town Forest, at least two with handguns and one in a ski mask, Exeter police said. They all ran into the woods toward a construction development, leading officials to order lockdowns at local schools as a cautionary measure.

One man of the armed men was quickly taken into custody and two others were detained leaving the woods near Industrial Drive, according to police, leading to the recovery of another gun.

While a fourth, unidentified, person remains at large the three men taken into custody, on charges of resisting arrest, were from Massachusetts. Exeter police identified them as 20-year-old Worcester resident Luis Rosado, 20-year-old Lowell resident Luis Negron and 19-year-old Lawrence resident Xaier Deleon, and said further charges may be filed against them.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the three men had attorneys who could speak to their arrests.

Local public schools, as well as Phillips Exeter Academy, were on lockdown amid the investigation, according to the Portsmouth Herald, which reported a heavy police presence on Epping Road for an unknown reason.

NBC10 Boston has reached out to Phillips Exeter and the Exeter school district, SAU 16, for more information.

A New Hampshire State Police representative said the agency was helping Exeter police with the investigation, but referred further questions to local police.