Gilmanton resident who died in standoff ID'd

GILMANTON ― Adam Barrett, 50, of Gilmanton, has been identified by Police Chief Matt Currier as the person who died after an armed police standoff last month on Province Road.

Barrett threatened the public and police with a gun, and and later set a house on fire after dousing it with gasoline.

His cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Currier said as the situation unfolded on Oct. 22, a shelter-in-place order was issued to residents, for roughly 2.5 hours, and the road was closed. Law enforcement agencies from around the county responded to the area before 1 p.m., as local officials tried to deescalate things.

Barrett was allegedly intoxicated, he said, which compounded the situation.

“Officers tried to negotiate with Adam and deescalate the situation, however, he threatened to shoot at officers upon arrival,” wrote Currier in an email. “Adam entered the residence of his landlord, poured gasoline throughout the inside of the house, and lit the house on fire.”

The house was destroyed, as firefighters had no choice but to remain on standby until the scene was secure.

“The home became fully involved. [Police] made a positive ID that the subject was deceased. At that point, we moved in," Fire Chief Paul Hempel said.

The deceased was not a resident of the home, but was staying on the property in a camper. According to Hempel, the subject was asked to leave, resulting in “tension.”

The subject “started the fire and took off from law enforcement. That was the situation where they were searching,” Hempel said in a previous interview.

In addition to Gilmanton Police and Fire, crews from Alton and Belmont police, Belknap County Sheriff’s Department, a State Police helicopter, and the Belknap Regional Special Operations Group responded to the scene.

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