ROCHESTER, N.H. (WHDH) - Police in Rochester, New Hampshire, have captured an “armed and wanted” man who they say was seen wandering in a Walmart parking lot with a rifle on Sunday afternoon.
Heavily-armed officers and SWAT teams surrounded 27-year-old Christopher Thomas Monday morning in the woods near the Walmart at 116 Farmington Rd. after he fired shots at law enforcement officials overnight, police said.
He was taken into custody just before 10:30 a.m. after an hourslong standoff and charged with four counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, according to police.
Officials evacuated Walmart, along with several surrounding businesses, Sunday around noon after Christopher Thomas was allegedly seen in the rear of the parking lot with a rifle before disappearing in the woods.
“When officers arrived up there, he fled into the woods,” Rochester Police Capt. John Thomas said. “We are familiar with who he is from prior dealings with him.”
Christopher Thomas is known to police and has three warrants out for criminal threatening and four warrants for theft, authorities said.
Rochester police officers, Seacoast CERT SWAT team and Stafford County SWAT team searched the Route 11 area overnight for Christopher Thomas.
“He has a history of stealing from Walmart, so if he went in there with a high-powered rifle, that’s concerning,” Capt. John Thomas said. “That’s why we wanted to evacuate.”
No injuries were reported during the incident.
Businesses remained closed during the morning but have since reopened.
Christopher Thomas is being held without bail pending a court appearance on Tuesday.
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