Authorities give new details on man's death after standoff with police at NH bed and breakfast

Investigators say a man who died after an hourslong standoff with police last week at a New Hampshire bed and breakfast was shot multiple times before taking his own life.

Kevin Steinfeldt, 58, of Plymouth, died early Thursday morning at the Federal House Inn on Route 25 in Plymouth. The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office initially said he had been fatally shot amid a report of an officer-involved shooting.

Authorities said police responded to the area following a disturbance call at the inn on Wednesday afternoon. When they arrived, officers reported hearing what they believed was the sound of gunshots. A man, who investigators said was armed with a rifle, barricaded himself inside.

The New Hampshire State Police Crisis Negotiation Team and SWAT Unit were called in for help. After hours of attempting to negotiate, the SWAT Unit said they had to fire on the man around 12:50 a.m. He was found in a doorway on the first floor with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead on scene.

Prosecutors publicly identified Steinfeldt Tuesday. The following day, they said an autopsy had determined his cause of death was a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, calling his death a suicide, but noting that he had also "sustained additional gunshot wounds."

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

A man named Kevin Steinfeldt is listed on Facebook as the inn's owner. His Facebook page was converted to a memorial page after last posting Oct. 31.

Authorities are continuing to investigate what led to the incident.

No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident, according to authorities.

Six members of the SWAT Unit fired during the incident. Their names are being withheld pending the results of formal interviews, he attorney general's office said.

Plymouth police said in a Facebook post around 9 p.m. Wednesday that they responded around 2:40 p.m. to a report of shots fired with injury in the area of Route 25 and the traffic circle. They said the nearby Mountain Village Charter School and numerous surrounding businesses were placed in lockdown as a precaution, and all children were reunited with their families.

In a follow-up post at 3:50 a.m. Thursday, the department added that Route 25 from the traffic circle to Hawkenson Drive in Rumney remains closed. Motorists are urged to seek an alternate route.

New Hampshire State Police had provided several updates on the incident on social media on Wednesday night.

Their first post around 4 p.m. Wednesday said that state police troopers had responded to reports of shots fired and a barricaded subject on Route 25 in Plymouth near the traffic circle. They said the subject was contained and there was no threat to public safety.

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Troopers have responded to reports of shots fired and a barricaded subject on Route 25 in the area of the Plymouth traffic circle. The subject is contained and there is no imminent threat to public safety. Please avoid the area. Additional updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/l6bMquvaJ0

— New Hampshire State Police (@NH_StatePolice) November 6, 2024