Escaped NH prisoner who triggered shelter-in-place alert captured in Lowell

A wanted fugitive who prompted a shelter in place in Salem, New Hampshire, on Tuesday night was taken into custody across state lines on Wednesday, officials said.

Following an extensive search, Massachusetts State Police and U.S. Marshals Service deputies located Daquhan Cromer in Lowell. The 29-year-old faces a charge of being a fugitive from justice in Massachusetts, and Salem police will seek extradition to have him returned to New Hampshire to face additional charges.

“Several of us have been at this for 24 hours now, and it’s satisfying that he’s in custody,” Salem Police Lt. Robert Kirley said.

Cromer was found in a private community on Bowden Street in Lowell around noon.

“Is it the guy that escaped? No way — that’s so terrifying,” witness Alyea Cortes said. “The fact that he ws literally down the hallway from me, that’s terrifying… I’m relieved he was found.”

“Through different investigative methods, they were able to track him down to a residence. And once they got to that residence, they were looking for him and he was inside,” Kirley said.

Police had searched throughout the night and into Wednesday morning for they escaped inmate, who they said was considered “armed and dangerous.”

Salem police had issued a shelter-in-place Tuesday amid the search for Cromer. The shelter-in-place order was lifted overnight as police said they believed Cromer had fled the Salem area. He had last been seen near Millville Street by Taylor Street.

Police said Cromer is responsible for multiple felonies in Salem.

The New Hampshire Department of Corrections said in an email that Cromer was originally placed on escape status almost a year ago after fleeing the Calumet Transitional Housing Unit in Manchester in the early-morning hours on Dec. 1, 2025. He was being incarcerated for simple assault.

The U.S. Marshals Service said Cromer was charged in Lowell district Court with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, threat to commit crime and felony vandalism, as well as an unrelated escape warrant in New Hampshire.

He is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Monday, USMS said.

“The United States Marshals Service has a proud tradition of pursuing the nation’s most dangerous fugitives, and that mission remains as important today as ever,” Dennis Matulewicz, head of the USMS for the District of Massachusetts, said in a statement. “Our deputies and task force officers work every day to ensure violent offenders are located, apprehended, and brought before the courts. We are proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners in making our communities safer.”

People who lived in Salem got the shelter-in-place alerts about the developing situation on Tuesday night. Soon after, law enforcement from around the region had descended on the town and were patrolling the streets.

“I honestly felt the safest I could be because I don’t live alone and I know that they’re all out here watching over us,” said Sabrina David, who lives in the neighborhood. “I just locked my doors and went to bed.”

Police were seen searching behind a shopping plaza Tuesday night, not far from the police station. There were police from numerous jurisdictions, including Merrimack and Londonderry, as well as armored vehicles, drones and police helicopters, assisting in the hours-long search.

Salem resident Kelly LaBrecque captured video of the fugitive running through her backyard.

“I ran outside to see what was going on,” she said. “I stood outside for a little bit because I could hear him in the backyard. And then I ended up seeing the police come down the street and flagged them down.”

The Salem School District issued a statement Wednesday morning updating parents on the situation, since the shelter in place occurred during after school activities. They said when the emergency alert was issued the school board was meeting, which was immediately recessed so they could coordinate their response.

Lancaster, Woodbury and Salem High School were all placed on immediate lockdown and students remained inside until they received authorization from police to release them to their parents.

School officials said a strong police presence was in place at all Salem schools on Wednesday “to ensure a calm, seamless, and reassuring arrival for everyone.”