Additional Information on Homicide Investigation in Peterborough, New Hampshire

Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella announces the following update regarding the July 5, 2026, death investigation in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Around 8:00pm on Sunday, July 5, 2026, police responded to a 911 call on Grove Street for a reported altercation involving two adult neighbors outside their residences in Peterborough. Responding officers found a deceased adult male, identified as Jack Hutchings, age 24, of Peterborough, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Another adult male, an off-duty police officer with the Peterborough Police Department, was found suffering from apparent stab/incised wounds. Witness reports to date indicate that the off-duty officer was at home with his family, and that he was outside with young children when the incident occurred. During the event, the off-duty officer suffered multiple stab/incised wounds. He has since been released from the hospital.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy of Mr. Hutchings earlier this week. The cause of Mr. Hutchings death was multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death is homicide. As used by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, homicide is defined as the killing of one person by another.

The homicide investigation is active and ongoing by the New Hampshire Department of Justice and the New Hampshire State Police and includes whether the person who shot Mr. Hutchings acted in self-defense or defense of others. All parties have been identified and have been cooperative in the investigation.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available while protecting the integrity of the investigation.