Staff reports 4:20 a.m.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 4:41 am
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WEARE - A Weare woman is under investigation by the state's Department of Justice Civil Rights Unit over allegations that she violated New Hampshire's Civil Rights Act.
The civil complaint alleges that on Oct. 20, 2024, Diane Durgin, 67, of Weare, threatened physical force against the victim, X.G., when she, upon seeing that he was black, drew a gun, pointed it at him, and threatened to kill him.
She repeated the threat even after the victim attempted to explain that he was lost, according to a statement from the Attorney Generals Office. When the victim attempted to drive away, Durgin fired two shots at his car. Durgin, who was one of several individuals to call 911 following the incident, explained why she had shot at his car, stating, "The guy is black."
The complaint further alleges that bias or prejudice against the victim's race motivated the threats and attempted property damage.
Each violation of the Civil Rights Act allows for a maximum civil penalty of $5,000. Violations of the Civil Rights Act also empower the court to restrain the defendants from committing future violations of the Civil Rights Act and other hate-motivated conduct for three years. With its complaint, the Civil Rights Unit has asked the court to implement a preliminary restraining order to protect the victim and the public.
The Civil Rights Unit enforces state civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act and the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination. Anyone who believes their civil rights have been violated may file a complaint at https://www.doj.nh.gov/bureaus/civil-rights-unit or by calling 603-271-3650.