Man Hospitalized After Police Use Deadly Force in Pelham: Ongoing Investigation Raises Questions on Use of Force in New Hampshire
A 33-year-old man identified as Sheldon Brockelbank was hospitalized on Friday after a confrontation with Pelham Police turned violent. The incident occurred on Nashua Road in Pelham, New Hampshire, after police responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a person “in mental distress.” The situation escalated rapidly and ended with two police officers deploying deadly force, leaving Brockelbank injured and hospitalized in stable condition as of Saturday evening.
According to a press release issued by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, the altercation began when officers from the Pelham Police Department encountered Brockelbank at the scene. Authorities say Brockelbank discharged a firearm multiple times at responding officers. In response, two officers returned fire. Fortunately, no officers were injured during the encounter.
Brockelbank has since been charged with reckless conduct for firing his weapon during the exchange. The identities of the two officers involved have not yet been disclosed. The New Hampshire Department of Justice is currently investigating the use of force to determine whether the officers’ actions were legally justified.
This incident marks the fifth police-involved shooting in New Hampshire in 2025, highlighting a troubling trend. Previous shootings this year have occurred in Derry, Londonderry, Dover, and Keene. Of the five incidents, one has resulted in a fatality. The frequency and severity of these encounters have sparked ongoing debates about mental health response protocols, the threshold for using deadly force, and law enforcement accountability in the state.
Last year, New Hampshire police used deadly force in nine separate incidents. Tragically, eight of those resulted in fatalities. Despite the high mortality rate, the Attorney General’s Office found each instance of force to be legally justified upon completing its investigations. These determinations have raised concerns among some community members and civil rights advocates, who argue for greater oversight and transparency in the review process.
The use of force against individuals experiencing mental health crises has become an especially sensitive issue nationwide. Mental health professionals and reform advocates often stress the importance of de-escalation tactics and specialized crisis intervention training for law enforcement officers. The Pelham incident, involving a person reported to be in mental distress, underscores the urgency of these concerns.
Adding to the broader context of law enforcement accountability in New Hampshire, the last time a law enforcement officer was charged in connection with someone’s death occurred in February 2024. In that case, former corrections officer Matthew Millar was charged with second-degree murder for the 2023 death of an incarcerated individual. Investigators allege that Millar used excessive physical force — applying pressure to the person’s chest and neck — ultimately causing fatal asphyxiation.
As investigations into the Pelham shooting continue, many are watching closely to see whether the Attorney General’s Office will again rule the use of deadly force as justified. Meanwhile, questions persist about how the state addresses incidents involving individuals in mental health crisis, and whether reforms might be needed to prevent future tragedies.
Public demand for accountability, transparency, and mental health-informed policing remains strong. For now, the spotlight is on Pelham — and on how justice will be served in the wake of another violent confrontation between police and a civilian in distress.