New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan said the shootings of two Manchester police officers as they pursued a robbery suspect are a “vivid reminder of the risks the members of law enforcement take every day.”
She made the comment in an order directing that flags at all public buildings be lowered to half-staff Sunday in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Officers Matthew O’Connor and Ryan Hardy were wounded in the pre-dawn shootings Friday. O’Connor, 28, was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg and released from a hospital Friday. Ryan is in stable condition recovering from gunshot wounds to the face and torso.
Ian MacPherson, 32, of Manchester, is being held without bail on two counts of attempted capital murder. He is expected to be arraigned Monday.
Manchester Police Chief Nick Willard said Hardy stopped MacPherson on the city’s West Side around 2 a.m. Friday because he matched the description of a suspect in a gas station armed robbery the day before. MacPherson began shooting at Hardy as soon as the officer announced himself, police said.
After being shot, Hardy called in MacPherson’s description and the direction in which he ran, Willard said.
“Officer Hardy’s reaction to being shot is beyond courageous, it’s remarkable,” Willard said at a Friday press conference.
About 20 minutes later, MacPherson encountered O’Connor and shot him, police said. O’Connor returned fire, Willard said, but MacPherson was not wounded during his encounter with police.
The suspect was arrested unharmed about 5 a.m. Friday outside a residence. Willard said he was wearing the same clothing as the man who was captured on video robbing a gas station the day before.
The police chief did not specify the type of weapon used in the shooting.
“They (officers) continued at their own peril to pursue a subject who shot two officers,” he said. “I cannot express deeply enough my profound respect.”
Willard said Hardy joined the force last year, after working for Derby police. O’Connor came to the Manchester force in 2014 from the Henniker police department.
“Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect their fellow citizens,” Hassan said.
The shootings had the city on edge for hours. Residents were ordered to shelter in place, and several schools shut down for the day. There was a visible police presence on the city’s West Side for much of Friday morning.
Manchester’s West Side includes a mix of older homes converted into apartments and small businesses. People who live near the site of the shootings described an active police presence through much of the morning that began immediately after the shooting started.
Edward Villmore, who lives near the site of the first shooting, said he awoke to multiple gunshots around 2 a.m. Friday.
“Next thing you know there’s sirens and tires squealing,” he said.
Floyd Johnson, who lives near the site of the second shooting, described a similar experience of waking up to gunshots and immediately hearing police swarm into the area. Johnson said he told his 13-year-old son to get on the floor. Police told Johnson to also stay put, away from the windows.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/suspect-cops-shooting-facing-attempted-murder-charges-39112316
Damn…another incident that could have ended so much better. Hopefully their injuries and near-death experience at least take them down a notch and leave mental scars to remind them that status as Big Brother’s special pets doesn’t make anyone invulnerable.
It’s too bad the pigs didn’t get their heads blown off, if this event even happened anything as described. They were probably trying to rob the guy.
they f#@ked around all day with the shelter in place order with media hyping fear but the had the guy in custody at 5 a.m. !
“put their lives on the line everyday”? Go F’ yourself, you excessive masturbators! “Hi, I’m Jonny Law.” “Don’t try to reason with me, I don’t have any.” “I’m just a ticket distributor.” “Common sense? That’s for you “commoners”! “We’re way above that!” “In fact, hang on a minute, checking diaper, nope, it still don’t stink!” F’N pigs. Oink, oink, oink!!!
“look at all the little piggies in their piggy world”
I take my life in my hands every single time I put the truck key in the ignition and leave my house! As, there’s always a chance that I may run into a psychopathic cop that desires to end someone’s life!
We need only consider the following:
(1) A cop’s job is to enforce the laws. All of them;
(2) Many of the laws are manifestly unjust, and some are even cruel and wicked;
(3) Therefore every cop has to agree to act as an enforcer for laws that are manifestly unjust or even cruel and wicked.
There are no good cops.
I had to add.
Cops enforce what they are told is the law when there is really no such law legally produced by their own rules
Well stated. That is indeed the main reason why there are NO “good cops” (other than the dead variety). Even if they did their work without routinely using barbaric levels of unnecessary force, “testilying” in court, planting evidence, covering up for their comrades who do these things, or otherwise betraying the public trust, all cops would still be pigs.
What decent person would accept money and special privileges in exchange for enforcing obedience to whatever power-hungry, psychopathic scum are able to fool enough people into voting for them? As you say, many laws are blatantly unjust and are nothing more than what Jefferson referred to as “the tyrant’s will.”
According to court rulings: law enforcement is there to enforce the law and arrest the law breakers. They owe no obligation to the private citizens. Remember: “You knew the job was dangerous when you took it”, if you did not, you got what you deserved.
If the officer shot him, how was he arrested unharmed?