Boy, 11, charged with murder for shooting a 'woman, 50, dead and leaving her husband critically injured' after opening fire with a shotgun in a rural New Hampshire home
An 11-year-old boy has been taken into custody and charged with murder in a deadly shooting that left one dead and another critically injured.
On Friday, the New Hampshire Attorney General's office revealed that Lizette Eckert, 50, was found dead at her home in Dobbins Way, Alton, having suffered a fatal gunshot wound.
Police responded to a call from the address at 7.30am. On arrival, Lizette's husband, James Eckert, 48, was found alive but had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a near-by hospital and remains in critical condition, according to authorities.
Assistant Attorney General Geoffrey Ward revealed the 11-year-old male suspect was apprehended two hours later.
Lizette Eckert (seen middle), 50, was found dead at the scene in Alton on Friday. Lizette's husband, James Eckert (right), 48, was found alive but had suffered multiple gunshot wounds
Authorities apprehended the boy after searching a wooded area behind the Eckert's family home.
He has been charged with one juvenile count of reckless second-degree murder and one juvenile count of attempted murder.
Ward called the double shooting 'an incredibly tragic incident'.
State and local police said the couldn't comment on the identity of the suspect or his relation to the victims at this time, but the couple do have three children, including two adopted sons.
The Attorney General's office couldn't be reached for comment.
It's not yet clear whether either of the two boys are responsible for the shooting. But because of the suspect's age, information is likely to remain limited.
However, Alton officials insisted there is no danger threatening the wider public.
Two nearby high schools, Alton Central and Prospect Mountain, were sent into lock-down during the police's two-hour search for the suspect.
It's not clear whether he was armed at the time of his arrest.
'There is no current threat to ACS,' Alton Central School Principal John MacArthur said in an email to Boston 10. 'As a precautionary measure we have activated a secure campus. Nobody is permitted in or out of the building until we are given an all clear.'
MacArthur also confirmed that none of the Eckert family are enrolled at the school. Prospect Mountain High School couldn't be reached for comment.
'We’ve just been gathered here, praying for the family,' said Russ Sample, a friend of the Eckerts and fellow member of the Community Church of Alton, to NHPR.
'The suddenness of this is incredible,' added the Church's pastor, Sam Hollo. 'None of us really realized that there were troubles, so it caught all of us by surprise.'
