New Hampshire

Manchester, NH High School Students Attend Vigil for Classmate Killed Outside Hardware Store

The New Hampshire Attorney General's office has identified the victim who was fatally shot Sunday afternoon in a hardware store parking lot in Goffstown.

Eighteen-year-old Ian Jewell of Manchester was found suffering from a gunshot wound by police around 4:20 p.m. at the Ace Hardware Store's parking lot on Depot Street.

Jewell was taken to a local hospital, where he later died, according to officials.

An autopsy conducted Monday determined that the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest and the manner of death is homicide, but investigators haven't released many details about the crime.

School officials confirm Jewell was a student at Manchester Memorial High School, where the Union Leader reports he was an honor student and a member of the school's track and field team.

"He was really positive, he tried to keep everybody positive. If someone was feeling down or getting bullied, he would step up and speak up for them," said classmate Matthew Gagne.

Students at the high school say Jewell was a popular teen who took time for all of his classmates. He loved tye-dye, was fascinated by the universe, and wanted to know more about the world.

"He was one of the popular kids. But most popular kids here are all snooty but he was different. He'd smile at everyone. If you tripped and fell in the hall, he was the one to help you pick up your books," classmate Katelyn Bisson said.

The senior was just months away from graduation.

"Whenever someone would need help, he was there. Whenever people asked like how his day was or when they were upset, he would tell them that it was going to be okay. He was honestly one of the nicest people I've ever met. He was nice to the teachers. He was nice to the students," said classmate Lily Letourneau. "It really opens your eyes because someone's death has to bring everybody together as a society you know."

Many people are now asking why did this happen and why him.

"There's a lot of shock and sadness," said student Alyssa Soucy.

Grief counselors were present at the high school Monday, where the flag is at half staff for Jewell, and additional staffers from other schools in the district have been sent to help, according to the school district.

Following the shooting, local police had said they were searching for a suspect near the hardware store and customers at nearby stores were told to stay inside.

The lock down was lifted after investigators said they found everyone who was involved. 

The limited information being released is only adding to the curiosity of what happened.

"We were supposed to do our presentations today, but my teacher held off for a day to show respect," said student Dathan Paradis.

Despite the frigid temperatures, hundreds of students gathered from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at a candlelight vigil at the high school Monday night to pay tribute to one of their own. 

Jewell was remembered as a smart student who often helped friends with math problems over the phone, even while working his after-school job at Market Basket.

"He always had his head up high. He did his job better than half of the people there, and I don't know, just something about him really touched me," said co-worker Zach Goodridge.

Jewell's classmates plan to wear tye-dye on Tuesday as a sign of solidarity.

"We're all wearing tye-dye in honor of him because it was his favorite thing to wear."

As for the crime, investigators have not said what the motive may have been and they have not said if an arrest is pending. 

The investigation is ongoing.

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