PORTSMOUTH — Police say a man was hospitalized after a man was shot Feb. 11 on the property of a condemned antiquarian bookstore, where the store’s owner is at the center of an eviction dispute with the city.
The man, whose identity was not immediately released, was found unresponsive in the parking lot of the closed-down business by responding city police and fire crews. He was initially taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital but was later taken to Boston Regional Hospital for his injuries, police said in an afternoon update.
According to Deputy Police Chief Michael Maloney, a passenger in a car called police around 12:22 p.m. and saw a man bleeding on the ground on the property.
Portsmouth police investigate the site of the condemned antiquarian bookstore at 1070 Lafayette Road on February 11, 2026 after a medical assistance call.
Crime scene tape was posted around the 1070 Lafayette Road property as city officials investigated the scene.
The police did not disclose the condition of the person.
Lt. Brian Howde said there is no danger to the public related to this incident. More information was not expected to be released on Feb. 11, according to Maloney.
Portsmouth police and firefighters respond to the site of the condemned antiquarian bookstore at 1070 Lafayette Road on February 11, 2026 after a medical aid call.
Portsmouth Fire Chief Bill McQuillen deferred comment to city police.
Portsmouth Police are continuing to investigate the incident. The public is asked to contact Det. Capt. David Keveney at (603) 610-7511 with information related to the incident.
The bookstore owner recently left a long-running dispute with the city, the property owner
Portsmouth Police are investigating at the site of the condemned antiquarian bookstore at 1070 Lafayette Road after a call for medical assistance on February 11, 2026. An officer looks at the only vehicle in the lot that has been cleared of snow.
Walter Wakefield is the longtime owner of the now-defunct bookstore. Wakefield recently dismissed an appeal of his eviction after the case went to the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
“I’m in all this trouble right now and waiting to be cleared by the city,” Wakefield, who is 80, recently told Seacoastonline. Wakefield is known to spend much of his time in one of the 21 book-laden cars on the property.
More: Portsmouth store owner ends fight; 21 The fate of a car full of books awaits
A Portsmouth firefighter waits to direct an ambulance to the condemned antiquarian bookstore on Lafayette Road on February 11, 2026.
Portsmouth District Court Judge John Pendleton ordered Wakefield to vacate the property, along with his vehicles full of books, in a summer 2025 eviction order. More than $3 million in fines have accrued from the city since summer 2024 for not removing them from the property, though city attorneys have said they will waive the removal penalty.
Attempts to contact Wakefield after the incident were unsuccessful.
According to city property records, the building was constructed in 1973.
If you need help
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988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 For 24/7, free and confidential support for people in crisis, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. (A chat option is also available at 988lifeline.org.)
NH Rapid Response Access Point – Call/text 1-833-710-6477 – If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis, you can call and talk to trained and caring clinical staff. You will be served by compassionate providers from mental health centers in your community who can help you access important resources in an emergency.
This story may be updated.
This article originally appeared in the Portsmouth Herald: Man shoots himself in condemned Portsmouth bookstore, flies to Boston
