Border Town Braces: Officer Wounded in Dramatic Plaistow Shooting & Manhunt

Well, it certainly wasn't the Monday morning anyone in Plaistow, New Hampshire, was expecting. Before dawn even broke, a fairly routine traffic stop, you know, the kind officers do dozens of times, spiraled into absolute chaos. We're talking gunfire, a police officer wounded, and then, a really intense manhunt that had the whole community on edge for hours, right there on the Massachusetts border.

Sources, folks who are really close to the investigation, have confirmed that Officer Sarah Chen, a dedicated member of the Plaistow Police Department, took a round. Thankfully, and I mean thankfully, her injuries aren't life-threatening, but it was a close call, a really, really close call, and it's certainly shaken everyone up. She’s currently recovering, and the outpouring of support for her has been just immense, which is truly wonderful to see.

The incident kicked off just after 4:00 AM on Monday, when Officer Chen pulled over a vehicle on Route 125, practically stone's throw from the state line. Details are still a bit murky, as you'd expect with an ongoing investigation, but it seems things escalated very quickly. There was an exchange of gunfire, and that's when Officer Chen was hit. The alleged shooter, identified later as 42-year-old Mark Jenkins, apparently just bolted from the scene after the initial confrontation, leaving behind a frantic situation and a wounded officer.

This triggered what I can only describe as a massive, multi-agency sweep. State Police from both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, along with local departments like Haverhill and Methuen, were absolutely everywhere. Helicopters were buzzing overhead, K9 units were on the ground, and residents were told, unequivocally, to stay inside and lock their doors. It was a terrifying few hours, to be honest, with the knowledge that a potentially armed and desperate individual was out there.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, but was really just a few grueling hours, law enforcement managed to corner Jenkins. He was taken into custody in a wooded area not far from the initial stop, thankfully, without any further drama or injuries. That news brought a collective sigh of relief across the entire region, I tell you. Imagine the tension – it was palpable.

It's one of those moments that really brings home the incredible risks our police officers face every single day. You think about these things happening elsewhere, maybe in a big city, but then it's right on your doorstep in a quiet town like Plaistow. While the immediate danger has passed, the investigation, as you can imagine, is still very much active and unfolding. We'll be keeping a close eye on any new details, particularly regarding what might have led Jenkins to such a desperate act. For now, though, there's just a palpable sense of relief, and a community rallying around its injured officer.