Littleton, N.H. – A quiet town was thrust into tragedy late Monday night, September 16, when a road rage incident escalated into a fatal shooting, leaving 38-year-old Eric Rexford dead. The incident, now the focus of a homicide investigation, began with a high-speed car chase through the streets of Littleton and ended with Rexford’s life being taken by gunfire.

Local authorities, including the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, State Police, and Littleton Police Department, are working diligently to piece together the events that led to the tragic encounter, which has sent shockwaves through the community.

At around 11 p.m., Littleton police received a 911 call from a man frantically reporting that another driver, later identified as Eric Rexford, was chasing and ramming his vehicle. The confrontation between the two men reportedly began as an aggressive exchange on the road but quickly escalated into a dangerous pursuit through Littleton’s residential streets. According to the caller, Rexford’s car repeatedly struck his vehicle during the chase.

Officers were immediately dispatched to investigate the call, but before they could intervene, the situation took a deadly turn. Just minutes after the call, gunshots rang out near the intersection of Pleasant Street, Union Street, and Cottage Street. When police arrived on the scene, they found two vehicles that had crashed—one of them belonged to Rexford, who had been shot multiple times. Despite efforts to save him, Rexford was declared dead shortly after being transported to a nearby hospital.

The other driver, who made the initial 911 call, remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities. According to his account, Rexford had been chasing him and striking his car when he opened fire in what is now believed to be an act of self-defense. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether charges will be brought against the shooter, as the case remains under investigation.

While much about the incident remains unclear, investigators have confirmed that the two men knew each other prior to the fatal encounter. However, the nature of their relationship and what may have triggered such a violent escalation remains under scrutiny. Authorities are exploring various possibilities, including previous tensions or a disagreement that led to the altercation.

So far, no specific motive has been revealed to the public, and investigators are still gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses to gain a clearer understanding of the events. Officials are urging anyone with information, particularly those who may have heard gunshots or witnessed the chase, to contact the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit at 603-223-3856.

Littleton, a small town nestled in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, is not accustomed to such violent events, and residents are grappling with the shock of Monday night’s tragedy. The deadly incident has shaken the town’s sense of safety, with many expressing disbelief that something so violent could happen in their community.

Police presence in the area has been heightened in the aftermath of the shooting, and residents have been asked to remain vigilant while investigators continue their work. The scene on Pleasant Street has been cordoned off, with officers meticulously combing the area for clues that might help unravel the cause of the deadly confrontation.

This incident underscores a growing concern across the United States regarding road rage and its increasingly dangerous outcomes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), road rage incidents resulting in fatalities have been on the rise in recent years. In 2022, over 500 people were killed in road rage-related incidents nationwide—a troubling trend that has caught the attention of law enforcement agencies and traffic safety advocates alike.

In this case, it appears that a moment of aggression on the road spiraled into deadly violence, adding to the troubling statistics. It is a stark reminder of how quickly tempers can flare and how those split-second decisions can have irreversible consequences.

As the investigation into Eric Rexford’s death continues, authorities remain tight-lipped about certain aspects of the case, including whether the shooter will face charges. The outcome of the investigation will likely hinge on whether the shooter’s claim of self-defense holds up under scrutiny, and whether Rexford’s actions during the chase constituted a clear threat to the other driver’s life.

For now, the small town of Littleton waits anxiously for answers, hoping that the investigation will provide clarity and justice for the lives disrupted by this tragic incident.

The New Hampshire State Police, along with Littleton’s local law enforcement, are asking anyone who might have witnessed the events leading up to the shooting to come forward. They are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who was near the intersection of Pleasant Street and Union Street at the time of the incident.

As more details emerge, authorities hope to piece together the puzzle of what went wrong that night—helping the community heal and, perhaps, preventing future incidents of road rage from taking such a deadly turn.