Police believe Dover father shot son in self-defense

Scene of Saturday's shooting on Three Rivers Farm Road. (Channel 6 image)

DOVER - A Dover man continues his recovery from a gunshot wound after a tragic shooting apparently between a father and son left the younger man dead on Saturday.

The New Hampshire Attorney General's office released a short but chilling statement Monday afternoon that shed light on what had been termed a domestic incident that ended in the death of 55-year-old Brenton Davis.

According to the joint press release from the attorney general's office and Dover Police, officers responded to a 911 call at 92 Three Rivers Farm Road in Dover a little after 9 a.m.

When police arrived, they found John Davis, 76, injured, with several gunshot wounds. Police later entered the Davis home at 92 Three Rivers Road and found the younger Davis dead.

The investigation so far leads officials to believe that the incident began when Brenton Davis shot his father several times. The elder Davis then managed to retrieve a shotgun and returned fire, wounding Brenton Davis after which John Davis left the home and called 911. He was listed in stable condition at Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover on Monday.

No one else was in the Davis home during the incident.

Police say Brenton Davis had a history of mental health issues.

An autopsy on the deceased was conducted Monday, with the cause of death a shotgun wound and the manner of death a homicide.

The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Dover Police Department at 603-742-4646.