Classes at New England College in Henniker are scheduled to resume as normal Tuesday, despite no arrests in connection with a shooting this past weekend that injured three and put the campus on lockdown.
Henniker police have said there is no “imminent or known threat to the community” at this time. However, authorities have released few details publicly about the shooting reported early Sunday morning, including whether the three victims – who’ve since been treated and released from Concord Hospital – suffered gunshot wounds.
“I have nothing to offer you at this time,” Merrimack County Attorney Robin Davis told the Monitor in an email Monday afternoon.
Authorities said over the weekend that two women and a man suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Two of the victims are current NEC students and one is a former NEC student, Vice President for Academic Affairs Wayne Lesperance said.
Local and state police are asking residents and visitors of the town to remain vigilant as they continue their investigation of the off-campus shooting. Henniker police were on hand Monday at the Henniker Community School, a K-8 school located about a tenth of a mile from where the shooting was reported Sunday at about 3 a.m. near the Henniker Pharmacy at 4 Bridge St., in the town center.
After consulting with Henniker police, SAU 24 Superintendent Jacqueline Cote wrote in a letter to parents on Henniker Community School’s website that operations at the school would be unaffected Monday because there was no specific threat to the district.
“Out of an abundance of caution, law enforcement will be present at Henniker Community School throughout the day,” Cote wrote. “Additionally, high school students who wait for the bus at the Grange should note that there may also be a police presence at Henniker Pharmacy.”
Additionally, she said, counselors would be available to students and staff.
New England College, which hosts 1,106 residential students, did not hold classes Monday. However, the campus remained open.
Lesperance said by phone Monday morning that the college communicated with all parents Sunday by email about the incident, as well as through an emergency text message notification service. The college also did one-on-one outreach to the parents of those injured, he said.
“We are continuing to work very closely with local and state police. We are talking to the chief regularly – it’s a real partnership,” he said. “We’ve encouraged our community members to be vigilant, and if you saw something, please say something.”
In a statement late Sunday, police said they were continuing to gather evidence and speak with witnesses.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact Sgt. Stephen Sloper of the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit at 271-3636 or Henniker police at 428-3212.
(Alyssa Dandrea can be reached at 369-3319 or at adandrea@cmonitor.com.)