Sheldon Brockelbank Hospitalized After Violent Confrontation with Pelham Police on Nashua Road Following 911 Call Reporting Mental Distress; Two Officers Deploy Deadly Force in Escalation Incident in Pelham, New Hampshire
Sheldon Brockelbank Hospitalized After Violent Confrontation with Pelham Police on Nashua Road Following 911 Call Reporting Mental Distress; Two Officers Deploy Deadly Force in Escalation Incident in Pelham, New Hampshire
Pelham, NH — A 33-year-old man, Sheldon Brockelbank, was hospitalized on Friday, May 16, 2025, after a confrontation with officers from the Pelham Police Department turned violent. The incident unfolded on Nashua Road in Pelham, New Hampshire, and has since raised questions surrounding the response protocol of law enforcement to mental health emergencies.
According to an official statement from the Pelham Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call placed at approximately 4:12 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The caller reported that a male individual—later identified as Brockelbank—was experiencing what was described as a “mental health crisis.” Although the identity of the caller has not been released, police noted that the caller expressed concerns that the man was “a danger to himself and possibly to others.”
When officers arrived at the scene, which is located in a residential section of Nashua Road not far from the town’s southern border with Massachusetts, they reportedly attempted to engage Brockelbank in dialogue. Witnesses in the area described seeing at least two police cruisers arrive, followed by officers approaching a visibly agitated man near the edge of a wooded area behind a private residence.
According to Pelham Police Chief Brian Gallagher, the initial response was intended to be a welfare check. “The goal of the officers responding was to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the individual in question and the community,” Gallagher said during a brief press conference held Saturday morning. “However, the situation evolved rapidly and unpredictably.”
While official details regarding what triggered the escalation are limited, authorities confirmed that two officers on the scene ultimately discharged their firearms. The department has not yet released the names of the officers involved, citing ongoing internal and external investigations. Brockelbank sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported by ambulance to a nearby trauma center. As of Saturday evening, he remains hospitalized in stable condition.
A Rapid Escalation and Use of Deadly Force
Chief Gallagher stated that officers first attempted to calm Brockelbank through verbal commands and negotiation techniques. “Despite officers’ efforts to de-escalate the situation, the individual did not comply with commands and made movements that our officers perceived as threatening,” Gallagher said. He did not clarify whether Brockelbank was armed at the time of the encounter.
Eyewitnesses to the event, however, presented varying accounts. One neighbor, who asked not to be named due to concerns over community backlash, said she heard loud shouting moments before gunfire erupted. “I looked out my window and saw the man pacing and yelling,” she said. “The police were telling him to get down. Then I heard what sounded like three or four gunshots.”
Emergency medical personnel were on scene within minutes of the shots being fired. Brockelbank was initially treated at the scene before being transported to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua. Hospital staff later confirmed that he was stabilized and underwent surgery for injuries that, while serious, were not life-threatening.
The identities of the officers who discharged their weapons have not yet been made public, pending the outcome of a formal review being conducted jointly by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit.
Community Reaction and Mental Health Concerns
The shooting has generated a range of emotional responses throughout the Pelham community and beyond, particularly among mental health advocates and residents calling for law enforcement reform. The case has renewed calls for changes in how police departments handle mental health-related 911 calls.
“This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for better mental health response frameworks that don’t rely solely on law enforcement,” said Dr. Amy Flanagan, director of the Granite State Mental Health Coalition. “Too often, we are seeing individuals in crisis treated as threats rather than as patients in need of compassionate care.”
Dr. Flanagan emphasized that while police are often the first responders in mental health emergencies, they are not always adequately trained or resourced to manage such delicate situations. “We need to move toward a co-responder model that includes trained mental health professionals embedded in police departments or available to respond alongside officers,” she said.
In neighboring cities like Nashua and Manchester, some departments have already piloted such programs, and early data suggest they lead to fewer violent outcomes and reduced arrests for individuals suffering from mental illness.
Background on Sheldon Brockelbank
Little is publicly known about Sheldon Brockelbank’s personal history at this time. Sources close to the family, who declined to speak on the record, indicated that he had struggled with intermittent mental health challenges in recent years but had not previously been involved in any major criminal incidents.
Public records indicate that Brockelbank was not on probation or parole at the time of the incident and did not have any recent criminal convictions. Those who know him describe him as a “gentle but troubled” individual who had difficulty maintaining employment due to emotional instability but was not generally considered violent.
“Sheldon is not someone who goes looking for trouble,” said one acquaintance who knew Brockelbank from a local support group. “He’s had his battles with depression and anxiety. It’s heartbreaking to hear that things escalated like this. It never should have ended in gunfire.”
Official Investigations Underway
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office has opened a formal investigation into the use of deadly force by the responding officers. State policy requires that all incidents involving police shootings undergo independent review to determine whether the officers acted within the bounds of lawful force.
“Whenever deadly force is used, it’s our duty to ensure that the law was followed and that every action taken was necessary and proportional,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Carmichael in a written statement released late Saturday afternoon. “We are committed to conducting a thorough and transparent investigation.”
In addition to reviewing body camera footage—if available—investigators will interview witnesses, examine physical evidence from the scene, and evaluate the officers’ conduct in accordance with established departmental protocols.
While Pelham Police officers are equipped with body-worn cameras, it remains unclear whether the devices were activated during the confrontation. The department has not yet released any footage to the public.
Policy Implications and Broader Context
The incident in Pelham is part of a larger national conversation about policing, mental illness, and the use of force. According to data compiled by the Treatment Advocacy Center, individuals with untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed during a police encounter than other civilians approached or stopped by law enforcement.
New Hampshire itself has witnessed several high-profile incidents in recent years involving police and individuals experiencing mental health crises. In response, several lawmakers have proposed legislation to increase funding for crisis intervention teams and to create statewide standards for how officers respond to such situations.
State Senator Maria Peters (D-Hillsborough), who represents a district adjacent to Pelham, said the latest incident is a stark reminder of what is at stake. “We cannot keep relying on the same systems and expect different outcomes,” Peters said. “It is time to reimagine public safety so that those who need help are met with care—not violence.”
Awaiting Answers
As the investigation continues, community members, advocacy groups, and the family of Sheldon Brockelbank are left seeking answers. The Pelham Police Department has pledged full cooperation with the Attorney General’s Office and has placed the officers involved on administrative leave, which is standard practice following an officer-involved shooting.
For now, the incident remains under intense scrutiny as the public awaits further details about what led to the shooting and whether the use of deadly force was warranted.
“We understand the community wants clarity, and we are committed to ensuring that transparency and justice are served,” said Chief Gallagher. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident, including Mr. Brockelbank and his family.”
Further updates are expected in the coming days as investigators complete their preliminary findings and release additional information.
