On August 30, 2024, a New Hampshire man was shot and killed by police after the man had allegedly shot his wife during an apparent argument. Maine State Police report that the man called 911 to report that he and his wife had had a fight, that his wife was dead, and that he had parked his car on the Piscataqua Bridge that crosses between New Hampshire and Maine at 2:30 a.m. that morning. An eight-year-old boy was found in the backseat of the man’s car, deceased from a bullet wound.
Details About the Incident
The man in question was identified as 37-year-old Trent Weston. His wife was 37-year-old Brittany Weston, and their son was Benson Weston. According to autopsy reports, the cause of the death of Brittany and Benson was homicide by a firearm inflicted by Trent Weston. Since the Piscataqua bridge sits between New Hampshire and Maine, law enforcement officers from both states responded to the call.
Officers shut down the bridge for seven hours and attempted to negotiate with Weston. Weston exited his vehicle and pointed a firearm at the law enforcement officers, prompting Maine State Police Trooper Craig Nilsen to shoot Weston. Weston fell from the bridge into the Piscataqua River, where the U.S. Coast Guard recovered his body at 8:30 am and officially declared him dead. The officers then discovered his deceased son in the backseat, while the body of Brittany Weston was later found in the family’s Troy, New Hampshire home.
Motives Unknown
The Westons had only been in Troy, New Hampshire, for a month after moving from Tennessee. Piscataqua Bridge is a major thoroughfare connecting Maine and New Hampshire, so closing it down for even a short time is a significant disruption. To drive 100 miles away from his home and have that sort of confrontation with police on the bridge, Trent Weston must have known how much chaos it would have caused. Questions remain as to why Trent Weston killed his wife and only child, and the troopers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.
A Deadly Trend
Unfortunately, murders like this are becoming increasingly common. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, domestic violence cases have risen worldwide by 8.1%. It is theorized that the COVID-19 lockdowns exacerbated the already volatile factors of domestic violence; however, even as the COVID restrictions eased up, stressors such as increased unemployment, financial insecurity from inflation, and substance abuse disorders have skyrocketed, further aggravating the problem.
Mental Health Crisis
While Trent Weston’s motives may never be completely known, we know that crimes of this nature are rising. While mental health care is available, there are some barriers for people to receive it, perhaps due to the stigma of seeking mental health assistance, the lack of enough available practitioners, the fact that some insurance policies don’t cover mental health care, or the lack of healthcare insurance options for many people. Whatever the reasons, it seems that mental health demands are outpacing the supply.
Final Words
While we many never know why Weston committed these horrific acts, we do know that a little town in New Hampshire will never be the same because of him. The lives of the officers and first responders will also be forever changed, especially after finding a deceased child in Weston’s car.
The investigations are ongoing at the time of this writing. It has to be catastrophic for all involved, which is one reason law enforcement must take administrative leave after an incident of this nature. Maine and New Hampshire agencies are working together to find answers, hopefully to help prevent future tragedies like these.
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