Autopsy: Fatal wound self-inflicted by man who died during police shooting in Plymouth

PLYMOUTH — An autopsy conducted following the death of a man in an altercation with State Police indicates he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a news release from Attorney General John Formella.

Kevin Steinfeldt, 58, of Plymouth, was identified Tuesday as the victim of the incident at the Federal House Inn at 27 Route 25 last week. Associate Chief Medical Examiner Abigail Alexander determined Steinfeldt sustained additional gunshot wounds after six troopers fired upon him. The self-inflicted wound was a single shot to his head. 

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The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and the identity of the troopers involved will be disclosed once all interviews about the incident have concluded in the coming days. Further information will be provided at that time, the release states.  

Officers from the Plymouth Police Department responded to the Federal House Inn after a disturbance was reported at 2:40 p.m. on Nov. 6. Officers who arrived at the scene reported hearing sounds consistent with gunshots coming from the interior of the residence and Steinfeld, who owned the bed and breakfast, had barricaded himself inside.

A SWAT unit and the New Hampshire State Police Crisis Negotiation Team arrived to provide assistance to Plymouth police and, over the course of several hours, were able to communicate with Steinfeldt, who was armed with a long gun and who they identified as the source of the reported disturbance. 

Before 1 a.m. Thursday morning, SWAT officers said over the radio they’d fired on Steinfeldt and, upon entering the building, found him near a first-floor doorway suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. None of the officers were injured during the shooting.