Authorities in Maine and New Hampshire are identifying the man who was shot and killed by state troopers on the Piscataqua River Bridge early Thursday morning.Officials are also sharing the names of the man's wife, who was found dead in their New Hampshire home, and the couple's young son, who was found dead in his father's vehicle. Trent Weston, 37, of Troy, New Hampshire, died of the gunshot wounds he suffered in the shooting, the Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Friday.The Maine OCME also conducted an autopsy on Weston's 8-year-old son, Benson. Officials ruled the boy was the victim of a homicide and died of multiple gunshot wounds.In addition, the New Hampshire associate medical examiner conducted an autopsy on Weston's 37-year-old wife, Brittany, and ruled she was a homicide victim who died of multiple gunshot wounds.The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office said that at this time, all evidence indicates Trent Weston is responsible for the deaths of his wife and their son.Maine State Police Col. William Ross said that shortly after 2:05 a.m. Thursday, the York Police Department received a 911 call from Trent Weston.Weston told police he was involved in a fight with his wife at their home in Troy and that she was dead, according to Ross.Ross said that at about 2:30 a.m., Kittery police officers found Trent Weston's vehicle parked in the middle of the Piscataqua River Bridge — which connects Maine and New Hampshire, carries Interstate 95 over the river and is approximately 95 miles away from Troy. Weston's vehicle was on the southbound side of the bridge, on the Maine side of the state line, according to Ross.The Piscataqua River Bridge was shut down to traffic shortly thereafter, and law enforcement agencies from New Hampshire and Maine responded to the bridge in an effort to negotiate with Weston.Meanwhile, police in New Hampshire responded to the couple's apartment at 359 Monadnock St. in Troy at about 3 a.m. after being notified about the call Trent Weston made to the York Police Department.Police entered the Troy home and found Brittany Weston dead, and discovered that the couple's son was missing.Officers who had responded to the Piscataqua River Bridge were able to secure the scene, but authorities said hours of negotiations with Trent Weston were ultimately unsuccessful.Ross said Weston exited his vehicle and raised a firearm, which prompted Maine State Police Trooper Craig Nilsen and two New Hampshire State Police troopers to open fire on him.Weston fell from the bridge after being shot and was found dead in the Piscataqua River. Ross said the U.S. Coast Guard recovered Weston's body almost immediately after he fell 135 feet into the water.Ross said law enforcement officers then found 8-year-old Benson dead in the backseat of his father's vehicle after Trent Weston had been shot by officers. Ross said the boy's death was not the result of the troopers' gunfire."I want to stress this right now, that the child's death is not associated with the police officers' use of deadly force. We have information that is not the case," Ross said. "Based on information we saw, it was very clear that the officers that were involved in the shooting did not fire on that child."The Piscataqua River Bridge was completely closed for approximately seven hours, causing significant delays. Traffic was being diverted to two other bridges in the area during the closure, including the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, which carries Route 1 over the river.The Maine Attorney General’s Office is now investigating the use of deadly force in the incident on the Piscataqua River Bridge. The troopers involved in the deadly shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation, which is standard protocol.The deaths of all three members of the Weston family remain under investigation. Related content:
KITTERY, Maine —
Authorities in Maine and New Hampshire are identifying the man who was shot and killed by state troopers on the Piscataqua River Bridge early Thursday morning.
Officials are also sharing the names of the man's wife, who was found dead in their New Hampshire home, and the couple's young son, who was found dead in his father's vehicle.
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Trent Weston, 37, of Troy, New Hampshire, died of the gunshot wounds he suffered in the shooting, the Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Friday.
The Maine OCME also conducted an autopsy on Weston's 8-year-old son, Benson. Officials ruled the boy was the victim of a homicide and died of multiple gunshot wounds.
In addition, the New Hampshire associate medical examiner conducted an autopsy on Weston's 37-year-old wife, Brittany, and ruled she was a homicide victim who died of multiple gunshot wounds.
The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office said that at this time, all evidence indicates Trent Weston is responsible for the deaths of his wife and their son.
Maine State Police Col. William Ross said that shortly after 2:05 a.m. Thursday, the York Police Department received a 911 call from Trent Weston.
Weston told police he was involved in a fight with his wife at their home in Troy and that she was dead, according to Ross.
Ross said that at about 2:30 a.m., Kittery police officers found Trent Weston's vehicle parked in the middle of the Piscataqua River Bridge — which connects Maine and New Hampshire, carries Interstate 95 over the river and is approximately 95 miles away from Troy. Weston's vehicle was on the southbound side of the bridge, on the Maine side of the state line, according to Ross.
The Piscataqua River Bridge was shut down to traffic shortly thereafter, and law enforcement agencies from New Hampshire and Maine responded to the bridge in an effort to negotiate with Weston.
Hearst Owned
Meanwhile, police in New Hampshire responded to the couple's apartment at 359 Monadnock St. in Troy at about 3 a.m. after being notified about the call Trent Weston made to the York Police Department.
Police entered the Troy home and found Brittany Weston dead, and discovered that the couple's son was missing.
Hearst Owned
Officers who had responded to the Piscataqua River Bridge were able to secure the scene, but authorities said hours of negotiations with Trent Weston were ultimately unsuccessful.
Ross said Weston exited his vehicle and raised a firearm, which prompted Maine State Police Trooper Craig Nilsen and two New Hampshire State Police troopers to open fire on him.
Weston fell from the bridge after being shot and was found dead in the Piscataqua River. Ross said the U.S. Coast Guard recovered Weston's body almost immediately after he fell 135 feet into the water.
Hearst Owned
Ross said law enforcement officers then found 8-year-old Benson dead in the backseat of his father's vehicle after Trent Weston had been shot by officers. Ross said the boy's death was not the result of the troopers' gunfire.
"I want to stress this right now, that the child's death is not associated with the police officers' use of deadly force. We have information that is not the case," Ross said. "Based on information we saw, it was very clear that the officers that were involved in the shooting did not fire on that child."
The Piscataqua River Bridge was completely closed for approximately seven hours, causing significant delays. Traffic was being diverted to two other bridges in the area during the closure, including the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, which carries Route 1 over the river.
The Maine Attorney General’s Office is now investigating the use of deadly force in the incident on the Piscataqua River Bridge. The troopers involved in the deadly shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation, which is standard protocol.
The deaths of all three members of the Weston family remain under investigation.
Related content:
Here's what we know about the shooting that shut down Piscataqua River Bridge for hours
