AG report still awaiting Shannon toxicology results

Benjamin Shannon

CONCORD, N.H. - The Assistant Attorney General charged with leading the investigation of an officer-involved shooting that claimed the life of a Rochester man said on Thursday that his office is still waiting for the toxicology reports from the state of Maine, where the autopsy was performed.

Benjamin Agati of the state’s Attorney General’s office, told The Lebanon Voice that the investigating team has nearly completed its probe into the death of Ben Shannon, who was killed in an apparent shootout with lawmen March 10 as they sought to arrest him for a bail violation.

Shannon was shot three times, in the arms and torso, according to the Maine Medical Examiner’s Office, which performed the autopsy because Shannon died in Maine after being transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland the day of the shooting.

Agati said on Thursday that once his office receives the toxicology report, it could still take several more days while the report is inspected and vetted before it is released. He said much of the toxicology report delay is because different states are involved. Shannon was shot in New Hampshire, but died later in the day at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

When gunfire erupted the day of the shooting inside Shannon’s mother’s mobile home at Sak’s Trailer Park, three officers from the New Hampshire Corrections Dept. Parole/Probation Office and a Strafford County Sheriff’s Deputy were all inside the trailer.

Shannon had been charged with the robbery of George and Ed’s convenience store in February and was expected to be indicted on the charge by a Strafford County grand jury. Police said he had threatened the clerk with a pellet gun in the robbery.

Shannon was known to have been in recent alcohol and drug detox.

A family member said last month that Shannon had a real gun when lawmen entered the mobile home and was prepared to “take them out” if they tried to arrest him.