No Bail For Man Charged With Shooting 2 Manchester Police Officers
MANCHESTER, N.H. (CBS/AP) – A man accused of shooting two Manchester police officers pleaded not guilty Monday to attempted capital murder charges.
Ian MacPherson's lawyer entered the pleas for him in Manchester District Court. MacPherson waived his appearance in the courtroom, which was filled with about 50 police officers, including the two who were shot.
Police said MacPherson shot Officer Ryan Hardy, 27, and Officer Matthew O'Connor, 28, minutes apart as they pursued him early Friday morning.
O'Connor was shot in the leg and was on crutches Monday.
Hardy was shot in the face and torso and had bandages on his face and on the back of his neck.
Police said Hardy stopped MacPherson because he matched the description of an armed robbery suspect. MacPherson began shooting at Hardy as soon as the officer announced himself, investigators said.
About 20 minutes later, MacPherson encountered O'Connor and shot him, police said.
An unsealed affidavit alleges that MacPherson bought the gun he's accused of shooting the officers with legally, and tried to dismantle and hide it once police were after him.
MacPherson was captured after a manhunt that shut down the west side of the city most of Friday morning. He is being held without bail.
"He's been suffering from mental illness issues for a long, long time," MacPherson's father said in a brief statement to reporters gathered at court Monday. "Hopefully, he's going to get help with that."
While addressing reporters, Manchester Police Chief Nick Willard chose not to speak on the case, but on the bravery of his officers.
"They are willing to give their lives for the betterment of their society and the furtherance of liberty," Willard said. "And they do so knowing that they may deprive their wife of their loving nature, that they may deprive their children of nurturing."
He said both officers are eager to get back on the street once their wounds are healed.
A key witness in the case is now telling her story to WBZ. Sarah Stratton says she saw MacPherson walk right by her home minutes after the first shooting.
"They put the description on the police scanner and that's when I noticed that he had the exact description as what they just described and my heart skipped a beat," she said. "I literally started crying. I got very scared "
Stratton says the person she saw had long blond hair, was wearing a trenchcoat, and was carrying something black.
MacPherson is due in court for a probable cause hearing May 27.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karyn Regal reports
WBZ-TV's Jim Smith contributed to this report.
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