In the United States, on Saturday, a tragic incident occurred on the bank of the Merrimack River in New Hampshire. A man named Jamie Bell, 42 years old, shot and killed his girlfriend, Nicole Hughes, and her 18-month-old daughter, Ariella Bell, before taking his own life. The police were alerted when Jamie Bell was seen fleeing a home in Franklin earlier that afternoon. According to the authorities, neighbors reported hearing gunshots.
Upon arriving at the scene, the police discovered the lifeless bodies of Hughes, Ariella Bell, and Jamie Bell. Assistant Attorney General Adam Woods of New Hampshire revealed these details during an evening news conference. Woods also mentioned that Hughes and Jamie Bell were in an intimate relationship, but no further information regarding their connection was provided.
The police further revealed that Hughes’ 5-year-old daughter from a previous relationship sustained a gunshot wound to her arm and a cut on her back. However, her injuries were not considered life-threatening, and she was promptly transported to a Massachusetts hospital for treatment.
In the aftermath of the incident, law enforcement embarked on an extensive search for Bell, initially identified as a person of interest. The search involved foot patrols and helicopter assistance. During this time, residents were urged to stay indoors due to the belief that Bell was armed and dangerous. Neighbors, like Kimberly Michaels, took precautions by locking their homes and keeping their children away from windows. Michaels expressed her condolences, saying, “My heart goes out to the family.”
Autopsies conducted on Sunday confirmed that Hughes and her daughter were victims of homicide, while Jamie Bell died from a self-inflicted wound to the neck. The manner of his death was determined to be suicide.
