Raymond Gunman Wounds Officer, Flees After Shooting at Family Members

A Raymond man armed with a high-powered rifle shot a Nottingham police officer and fired at his own family members before fleeing on foot Saturday afternoon, triggering a multi-agency manhunt and shelter-in-place order that sent shockwaves through the community.

Matthew J. Masse, 38, became the subject of a 911 call just after 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, when law enforcement was contacted about reports that he was shooting at family members at a home on Ham Road. When officers arrived and located Masse, he allegedly opened fire on them, wounding one before running from the scene with a long gun.

The wounded officer, a member of the Nottingham Police Department who had responded to assist, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital by ambulance. He had not been publicly identified by name as of Saturday evening.

NH State Police Major Brendan Davey named Masse at a press conference held around 8:30 p.m. Saturday and confirmed the manhunt was still active. Masse's mother, speaking to WCVB, said her son suffers from severe mental health issues and that family members had gone to check on him before he began shooting. No family members were injured in that initial exchange.

Masse is described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 202 pounds, with black hair and hazel eyes. He is believed to be traveling on foot and is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who spots someone matching his description should call 911 immediately and not approach him. NH State Police also established a dedicated tip line at 603-628-8477.

Raymond Police Department issued an automated shelter-in-place alert through NH 911 for residents near Ham Road and Nottingham Road, with all others asked to stay out of the area entirely. Multiple law enforcement agencies joined NH State Police in establishing a perimeter around the scene. State police also referenced domestic violence resources at the press conference, reflecting the family nature of the initial shooting.

The emergency alert landed hard across town. Lifelong Raymond resident Evan Bennett told CBS Boston: "I think people are really scared. When the amber alert came out, people were inside the pizza shop... they just left immediately." As of Saturday night, Masse remained at large.