A employee at Shooter's Pub in Exeter subdued a man who came in with an allegedly loaded gun, defusing a potentially dangerous situation.

Ricky A. Gagne, 49, of East Kingston entered the bar on Columbus Avenue around 11 p.m. on Thursday looking for his credit card, according to Exeter Police Chief Stephan R. Poulin. After being told by the bartender she didn't have it, Gagne went into the bathroom to check.

When Gagne heard several people laughing, he took offense and said that if they thought his predicament was funny, he was going to get his gun from his truck. He then exited the pub, according to Poulin. Several customers saw Gagne then remove what looked like a black pistol from the truck, "rack" a round, and walk towards the pub entrance.

Employee Ready for Gagne's Return

As Gagne opened the door and lifted the gun towards those inside the pub, an employee pushed the door into Gagne and then pushed him, according to the chief. The two fell to the ground, causing Gagne to drop the gun as a struggle ensued. The gun was then kicked away from Gagne's reach, and he was held down awaiting the arrival of police.

Poulin said the gun, a black Beretta .40-caliber pistol with a magazine holding nine rounds with one chambered, was recovered.

Gagne was charged with four counts of criminal threatening and was arraigned on Tuesday. He is being held on preventive detention pending an evaluation for the Rockingham County pretrial release program.

“This was a very dangerous and frightening situation for those who were inside the establishment at the time. We’re extremely thankful that no one was hurt during the incident,” Poulin said in a statement.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH

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