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The gunman who killed a security guard in a shooting at a psychiatric hospital in the US has been identified.

John Madore, 33, entered the front lobby at New Hampshire Hospital on Friday night and opened fire, with police initially reporting “multiple victims”.

On Saturday, New Hampshire’s attorney general, John Fomella, said Madore shot dead Bradley Haas, 63, before a police officer killed him.

All patients at the 185-bed hospital in the state capital of Concord were safe, but Mr Haas could not be saved despite attempts to resuscitate him.

Several police cars were sent to the scene. Pic: WMUR via AP
Image:
Several police cars were sent to the scene. Pic: WMUR via AP

“Investigators with the New Hampshire State Police have searched and cleared a suspicious box truck near the scene,” Mr Fomella added.

“They determined the truck poses no safety risk.”

Guard’s actions ‘saved many’

Madore used a 9mm pistol when he shot unarmed Mr Haas, whose actions “saved a lot of lives”, Mr Fomella said.

Police also found an AR-style rifle, a tactical vest and several ammunition supplies in a truck at the hospital car park.

Mr Haas lived in Franklin, a small city about 20 miles (32 kilometres) from Concord, and he worked as a police officer for 28 years before rising to become police chief, according to Mr Fomella.

Read more:
America’s most deadly mass shootings of 2023
Mass shootings are elsewhere – but America’s problem with guns stands alone

NEW HAMPSHIRE AERIAL SHOT MASS SHOOTING 17/11/2023
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An aerial shot of the area where the mass shooting took place

The Franklin Police Department said he dedicated decades to the city and police department before retiring in 2008.

Friday’s shooting was the latest act of violence at a hospital in the US, with medical centres across the country struggling to adapt to the growing threats.

It came weeks after 18 people were killed and 13 others injured in a mass shooting in neighbouring Maine.

The facility is the only state-run psychiatric hospital for adults in New Hampshire.

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Trump’s two-week timeline: What next for Iran?

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Trump's two-week timeline: What next for Iran?

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said Donald Trump will make a decision on whether to militarily strike Iran in the next two weeks. That’s as diplomatic talks between Western governments and the Iranians ramp up.

In today’s episode, US correspondents Mark Stone and Martha Kelner unpick why the delay might be, and the competing voices in the ears of the president.

If you’ve got a question you’d like the Trump100 team to answer, you can email it to trump100@sky.uk.

Don’t forget, you can also watch all episodes on our YouTube channel.

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Trump’s update on Iran timeline is significant – but it still keeps everyone guessing

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Donald Trump weighing up many risks before possible US strike on Iran

This is the most significant statement from the US president in days, though it still keeps everyone guessing.

In a message conveyed through his press secretary, he is giving diplomacy up to two weeks to work.

“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” Karoline Leavitt quoted him as saying.

It is not clear what “whether or not to go” entails.

Israel-Iran conflict: Latest updates

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Trump: Iran ‘weeks away’ from nuclear weapon

We know that he has been given a spectrum of different military options by his generals and we know that the Israelis are pressuring him to use American B2 bombers with their bunker-busting bombs to destroy Iran’s nuclear facility at Fodow.

The Israelis are encouraging no delay. But against that, he is weighing up many risks, both military and political.

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Militarily, it is not clear how successful a bunker-busting strike on Fordow would be.

Experts have suggested it would require several of the massive bombs, which have never been used in combat before, to be dropped on the site.

It is not as simple as one clean strike and job done.

Politically, the president is under significant pressure domestically not to get involved in Iran.

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MAGA civil war breaks out over Iran

Within his own MAGA coalition – influencers, politicians and media personalities are lining up in criticism of involvement in the conflict.

One of those leading the criticism, his former chief strategist Steve Bannon, who maintains huge influence, was seen entering the White House on Thursday.

His press secretary reiterated to us that the president always wants to give diplomacy a chance and she confirmed that his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has spoken to the Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.

Steve Bannon speaks at a conservative conference in Maryland earlier this month. Pic: AP
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Steve Bannon, seen recently at a conservative event in Maryland, is against US involvement in Iran. Pic: AP

European leaders, including the UK foreign secretary David Lammy, who is in Washington, are meeting Mr Araghchi in Geneva on Friday.

The two-week window – assuming it lasts that long – also gives space to better prepare for any strike and mitigate against some of the other risks of US involvement.

Read more from Sky News:
Is Trump losing his MAGA support?
Gantz defends conflict with Iran
‘Love Trump’ says Israeli minister

There are 40,000 troops in bases across the Middle East. It takes time to increase security at these bases or to move non-essential personnel out. It also takes time to move strategic military assets into the region.

The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its support vessels were redeployed from the Indo-Pacific on Monday. Their last known position was the Strait of Malacca two days ago.

The Nimitz Carrier Group will overlap with the USS Carl Vinson group which was deployed to the Middle East in March.

The potential two-week window also allows for more time for a ‘day after’ plan, given that the Israeli strategy appears to be regime change from within.

Since the Israeli action in Iran began last week, the worst-case scenario of mass casualties in Israel from Iranian attacks has not materialised.

The president is said to be surprised and encouraged by this. “Israel has exceeded a lot of people’s expectations in their abilities,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

The Israeli success, the absence of a mass casualty event in Israel, and the lack of any sustained counterattack by Iranian proxies in the region remove reservations that previous presidents have had about taking on Iran.

That said, sources have told Sky News that the president is determined that the diplomatic solution should be given a chance despite current pessimism over the chances of success.

A critical two weeks ahead.

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SpaceX rocket being tested explodes into giant fireball before launch in Texas

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SpaceX rocket being tested explodes into giant fireball before launch in Texas

A SpaceX rocket has exploded before launch – sending a dramatic fireball high into the sky.

Starship 36 was preparing for its 10th test flight at Starbase – SpaceX’s launch site at the southern tip of Texas – when the incident occurred on Wednesday evening.

During take off procedures just after 11pm local time, the rocket exploded into a giant fireball.

The company described the incident as a “major anomaly”.

A screenshot of the moment a SpaceX rocket Starship 36 exploded in Starbase, Texas. Pic: NASASpaceFlight
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Starship 36 was preparing for its 10th test flight. Pic: NASASpaceFlight

A screenshot of the moment a SpaceX rocket Starship 36 exploded in Starbase, Texas. Pic: NASASpaceFlight
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The test flight failed at Starbase – SpaceX’s launch site. Pic: NASASpaceFlight

In a statement, it added: “A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for.

“Our Starbase team is actively working to safe the test site and the immediate surrounding area in conjunction with local officials.

“There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue.”

Read more from Sky News:
Trump: I ‘may or may not’ strike Iran
Elon Musk posts ‘drug test results’

It marks the latest failure for the space flight company, which hopes that Starship will one day be used to ferry people and cargo to Mars.

Last month, a Starship test flight began spinning out of control about 30 minutes after its launch because of fuel leaks – meaning it broke up on re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

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May: SpaceX rocket spins out of control

That followed explosive past failures in January, where a rocket blew up about eight minutes after take-off, and March, which forced flights in Florida to be temporarily grounded.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in May that despite the rocket failure, the test flight was a “big improvement”.

A day later, he said he wants to send a spacecraft crewed by humanoid robots on a voyage to Mars by the end of 2026.

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