South Peak yields views of Big Squam and Little Squam. The low-lying peak is contained at Whitten Woods in Ashland.
South Peak yields views of Big Squam and Little Squam. The low-lying peak is contained at Whitten Woods in Ashland. Credit: MARTY BASCH / For the Monitor

A police officer was shot and wounded in Ashland on Monday evening after exchanging gunfire following a traffic stop and was transported to Concord Hospital. The suspect was dead at the scene.

Members of the Ashland Police Department conducted a motor vehicle stop in town with an adult male driver, according to a statement from state police and the Attorney General’s office.ย 

“Officers reported that the male produced a gun and engaged in an exchange of gunfire with the officers.ย  The male shot one officer, striking and wounding the officer.ย  During the exchange, the adult male was shot,” authorities said in a statement. “He was later pronounced deceased at the scene.”

Nobody else was injured and there is no risk to the public, the statement said. No further details were available.

Ashland is a town of about 2,000 residents along Interstate 93, just south of Plymouth.

David Brooks can be reached at dbrooks@cmonitor.com. Sign up for his Granite Geek weekly email newsletter at granitegeek.org.