PORTSMOUTH — A man was hospitalized after apparently injuring himself Feb. 11 on the property of a condemned Antiquarian Bookstore, where the owner has been at the center of an eviction dispute with the city, police said.
City police and fire personnel found the man, whose identity was not immediately released, unresponsive in the parking lot of the shuttered business. He was initially taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, but was later airlifted to a Boston-area hospital due to the severity of his injuries, police said in an update late in the afternoon.
Deputy Police Chief Michael Maloney said that at 12:22 p.m., a passerby driving reported to police that he saw a man lying on the ground bleeding.
After receiving a call for medical assistance on February 11, 2026, Portsmouth Police investigated the Antiquarian Bookstore located at 1070 Lafayette Road.
City authorities posted crime scene tape around the property at 1070 Lafayette Road while they investigated the scene.
Police did not disclose the man’s condition.
Lt. Brian Howder previously said there was no danger to the public from the incident. Maloney said no further information is expected to be released on February 11.
On February 11, 2026, Portsmouth police and firefighters responded to a call for medical assistance and responded to the scene of the Antiquarian Bookstore located at 1070 Lafayette Road.
Portsmouth Fire Chief Bill McQuillan deferred comment to city police.
Portsmouth Police are continuing to investigate the incident. The public is asked to contact Det. Capt. David Keaveny (603) 610-7511 has information about this incident.
Bookstore owner recently dropped long-running dispute with city government, property owner
On February 11, 2026, Portsmouth Police responded to a call for medical assistance and investigated the condemned antique bookstore located at 1070 Lafayette Road. An officer looks at one of the only vehicles on the lot that had been cleared of snow.
Walter Wakefield was the long-time owner of the now-defunct bookstore. Wakefield recently dropped his eviction appeal after the case went to the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
“I’m in limbo now, waiting to be dealt with by the city,” Wakefield, now 80, recently told Seacoastonline. Wakefield is known to spend much of his time in one of the 21 books-filled cars on the property.
More: Portsmouth shop bosses end fight; await fate of 21 cars filled with books
A Portsmouth firefighter waits to guide an ambulance onto Lafayette Road from the site of the condemned antique bookstore on February 11, 2026.
Portsmouth District Court Judge John Pendleton ordered Wakefield and his vehicle filled with books to vacate the property in a summer 2025 eviction order. The city has racked up more than $3 million in fines since the summer of 2024 because the vehicles were not removed from the property, though city attorneys said they would waive the fines once the vehicles were removed.
Attempts to contact Wakefield following the incident were unsuccessful.
The building was built in 1973, according to city property records.
if you need help
The National Alliance on Mental Illness in New Hampshire offers the following resources for people struggling:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 Providing 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. (988lifeline.org also offers a chat option.)
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 abuse crisis, you can call and speak with a trained and caring clinical staff member. You will be served by compassionate providers at your community’s mental health center who can help you access important resources in an emergency.
This story may be updated.
This article originally appeared in the Portsmouth Herald: Man shot himself at Portsmouth bookstore on flight to Boston