Juvenile charged after double shooting in NH home; 2 victims dead

ALTON, N.H. — An 11-year-old in New Hampshire has been charged under the state's juvenile laws in connection with a double shooting at his family home in Alton.

Police on Friday morning swarmed the Dobbins Way home, which is near the New Durham town line, after receiving a 911 call.

That's when they found Lizette Eckert, 50, deceased at the residence from a single gunshot wound. An autopsy determined the manner of death was homicide, and said the cause was a single gunshot wound to the head.

Also inside the house was James Eckert, 48, who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead late Friday night. His autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

Authorities searched a wooded area near the residence, and at 9:30 a.m., took a juvenile into custody.

The 11-year-old boy was charged under the state's juvenile laws with one count of reckless 2nd degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

"They are a good Catholic family," said a woman who is friends with the Eckert family. The woman told Boston 25 News reporter Ted Daniel that police came to her house to "check on them" earlier in the morning when they were still searching for a suspected gunman.

Nearby Alton Central School for a short time activated a secure campus as a precautionary measure, which means nobody was permitted in or out of the building. The superintendent subsequently posted the following message to the school's Facebook page:

The events of the day remind us that even here in our small town, unspeakable tragedies can occur. Although the family involved is not enrolled at Alton Central, community ties between neighbors can bring about strong emotions. If your child feels the need to talk with a guidance counselor, or any other adult they feel comfortable with, please contact Mr. MacArthur at 875-7500 or jmacarthur@sau72.org so that he can ensure that the contact is made. <br/> A thank you to the staff and administration at ACS for their calm and professional handling of the situation. Your children are in good hands.

Authorities said they have identified all parties involved in the incident.

Cox Media Group