Man shoots self at condemned Portsmouth bookstore, flown to Boston
Man shoots self at condemned Portsmouth bookstore, flown to Boston
PORTSMOUTH — Police said a man was hospitalized Feb. 11 after an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on the property of the condemned Antiquarian Bookstore, where the store’s owner has been at the center of an eviction dispute with the city.
The man, whose identity was not immediately released, was found unresponsive in the parking lot of the closed-down business by responding city police and fire crews. He was initially transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital but has since been flown to a Boston area hospital due to the extent of his injuries, police said in a late-afternoon update.
A passerby in a car called police at 12:22 p.m. to report seeing a bleeding man lying on the ground on the property, according to Deputy Police Chief Michael Maloney.
Crime scene tape was posted around the 1070 Lafayette Road property as city authorities investigated the scene.
Police did not disclose the man’s condition.
Lt. Brian Houde stated previously there is no danger to the public associated with the incident. No further information was expected to be released Feb. 11, according to Maloney.
Portsmouth Fire Chief Bill McQuillen deferred comment to city police.
Portsmouth police are continuing to probe the incident. Members of the public are asked to contact Det. Capt. David Keaveny (603) 610-7511 with information pertaining to the incident.
Bookstore owner recently dropped long dispute with city, property owner
Walter Wakefield is the longtime owner of the now-defunct bookstore. Wakefield recently dropped his eviction appeal after the case reached the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
“I’m in all this trouble now and waiting to be disposed of by the city,” Wakefield recently told Seacoastonline, noting he is 80 years old. Wakefield is known to spend much of his time on the property in one of 21 book-filled cars.
More: Portsmouth store owner ends fight; awaits fate of 21 book-filled cars
Portsmouth District Court Judge John Pendleton ordered Wakefield, along with his vehicles filled with books, to vacate the property in a summer 2025 eviction order. Over $3 million in fines from the city have accrued since summer 2024 due to the vehicles not being taken off the property, though city attorneys have stated they would waive the penalties upon their removal.
An attempt to contact Wakefield after the incident was unsuccessful.
The building was constructed in 1973, according to the city property records.
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This story may be updated.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Man shoots self at condemned Portsmouth bookstore, flown to Boston
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