Police were forced to use lethal force on a man early Thursday morning on the Piscataqua River Bridge, leading to the devastating discovery of the body of an 8-year-old child inside his car, according to officials. The sequence of events began when authorities received a distressing call from the man, confessing to the murder of his wife in their Troy home, Maine State Police Col. Bill Ross revealed.

The disturbing 911 call was received in York, Maine, around 2:07 a.m., with the man claiming that he had engaged in a heated altercation with his wife. Responding officers arrived at the residence, only to find the lifeless body of the woman. Additionally, an 8-year-old child, who resided in the same home, was reported missing, intensifying concerns over the unfolding situation.

Sources informed News 9 Investigates that law enforcement managed to track the man's cellphone signal, leading them to the Kittery, Maine area. Around 2:30 a.m., Kittery police located the suspect's vehicle in the southbound lane on the Piscataqua River Bridge, prompting the intervention of New Hampshire State Police and Maine State Police. As a result, Interstate 95 was temporarily shut down as authorities strategized their response.

Officials attempted negotiations with the individual involved in the incident, but their efforts proved futile, stated Col. Ross. The situation quickly took a fatal turn when the man exited the vehicle brandishing a firearm. In response, a Maine state trooper and two New Hampshire troopers discharged their weapons, resulting in the man falling from the bridge. The prompt response of the Coast Guard led to the recovery of his body from the water, Col. Ross confirmed.

Following the fatal shooting, law enforcement made a heartbreaking discovery inside the suspect's car - the lifeless body of the missing 8-year-old child. Col. Ross divulged that the child had also suffered from gunshot wounds, but clarified that the child's tragic fate was unrelated to the officers' use of deadly force.

As per standard protocol, the involved troopers have been placed on administrative leave, pending the ongoing investigation into the incident, Col. Ross affirmed. At present, no official identities have been disclosed, and neither has the exact cause of the woman's death. The incident remains under thorough investigation, with certain details yet to be released.

The Piscataqua River Bridge faced extensive closure during the incident, disrupting the morning commute for hours. However, the bridge has since been reopened, restoring normal traffic flow. Meanwhile, the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit arrived on Monadnock Street in Troy, where the family's residence is located. Neighbors expressed shock, mentioning that the family had recently moved into the area.

This tragic chain of events on the Piscataqua River Bridge has left authorities and the community reeling, as they attempt to comprehend the unsettling series of incidents that unfolded in the early hours of Thursday morning.