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NH Police Catch 'Armed And Dangerous' Sex Offender After Search

EPPING, N.H. (CBS) – New Hampshire police said they caught a sex offender believed to be armed and dangerous after a domestic incident and ensuing search.

Police in Epping were called to Old Nottingham Road late Monday night when a witness heard a gunshot.

Following the incident, police began searching for 25-year-old Christopher Lemear, who has a 2009 conviction for burglary and felonious sexual assault.

"We believe he may possibly be suicidal, so it's for that reason, and the reason that he has a gun and fired it last night that he's armed and dangerous," Epping Police Captain Jason Newman said.

Epping
Police on Old Nottingham Road during the search for sex offender Christopher Lemear. (WBZ-TV)

Old Nottingham Road was closed near Grassy Lane as Epping Police and other departments spent the morning searching for Lemear. Nearby residents stayed in their homes during the hunt.

"I just kept my .38 sitting on the table beside me, kept my doors locked," said neighbor Herb Grant.

An officer was driving in Epping on Tuesday afternoon when he saw a man walking in pajama bottoms and recognized it was Lemear.

When the officer went to investigate, Lemear allegedly tried to run into the woods. He gave up when police shouted at him to stop.

Epping Police say Lemear had a Ruger handgun in the waistband of his pajamas.

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