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EXPECTED TO RECOVER.
LET'S LISTEN IN TO THE LIVE
NOW.
>> WE HAVE FROM THE UNITED
STATES E.T.F THE SENIOR
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
AND WE HAVE THE ASSOCIATE
ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM THE STATE
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OF COURSE, THE HONORABLE MAYOR
TED GATSAS, CHIEF WILLARD AND
ASSISTANT CHIEF.
I WILL CALL UP THE HONORABLE
MAYOR GETS HIS FIRST FOLLOWED BY
JANE YOUNG.
WILLARD.
WE WILL TAKE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
PLEASE BE PATIENT.
TODAY.
MAYOR GATSAS.
MAYOR: THANK YOU.
LET ME BEGIN BY KNOWLEDGE AND
CHIEF NICK WILLARD AND THE MEN
AND WOMEN OF THE MANCHESTER
POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SWIFT
RESPONSE TO THIS MORNING'S
INCIDENT.
THEY WORKED QUICKLY TO ENSURE
THE SAFETY OF CITY RESIDENTS AND
IMMEDIATE WE BEGAN THE SEARCH
AND INVESTIGATION TO APPREHEND
THE SUBJECT.
ONE OF THE OFFICERS HAS BEEN
RELEASED FROM THE OFFICERS --
HOSPITAL AND IS RECOVERING AT
HOME.
TRANSPORTED TO THE BOSTON
CONDITION.
OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO
THOSE OFFICERS AND HER FAMILIES.
CHIEF WILLARD WILL RELEASE THE
THIS AFTERNOON.
THIS REMAINS AN ACTIVE
INVESTIGATION BEING LED BY THE
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
THEY, IN COOPERATION WITH THE
MANCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT,
HAVE APPREHENDED THE SUBJECT AND
HE REMAINS IN POLICE CUSTODY.
THEY WILL ALSO ADDRESS THAT WITH
YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
WESTSIDE RESIDENTS FOR THEIR
INCIDENT.
I WANT TO ENSURE THE WESTSIDE
RESIDENTS AND ALL CITY RESIDENTS
THAT WHILE THIS REMAINS AN
ACTIVE INVESTIGATION, THERE IS
NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.
THE SUBJECT IS IN CUSTODY.
AND I, ALONG WITH CHIEF WILLARD,
WANT TO ENSURE THE CITY IS SAFE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GENTLEMEN.
APPROXIMATELY 2:00 THIS MORNING,
MANCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS
ON 2ND STREET NEAR FERRY STREET.
HE SAW AN INDIVIDUAL.
INDIVIDUAL.
MADE AN APPROACH BECAUSE TWO
NIGHTS AGO, THERE WAS A ROBBERY
IN MANCHESTER.
DESCRIPTION.
THE OFFICER GOT OUT OF HIS
VEHICLE, INDICATED TO DISPATCH
HE WAS DOING SO, AND ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY AFTER INDICATED
STRUCK.
HE WAS ALSO ABLE AFTER BEING
STRUCK BY BULLETS, HE WAS ABLE
TO TELL DISPATCH THE SUBJECT WAS
HEADED SOUTH ON 2ND STREET.
THAT WAS A WHITE MALE WITH LONG
HAIR WEARING A TRENCH COAT.
AGAIN, THIS WAS A SIMILAR
DESCRIPTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL
WHO HAD COMMITTED THE ROBBERY
THE NIGHT BEFORE.
AT APPROXIMATELY 2:23, OFFICER
MATTHEW O'CONNOR AND MEMBERS OF
THE MANCHESTER -- NEW HAMPSHIRE
STATE POLICE SAW A MALE FITTING
THE SAME DESCRIPTION IN THE AREA
MANCHESTER.
TO STOP.
AT THAT POINT, THE INDIVIDUAL
TURNED AROUND, FIRED SHOTS AT
LEG.
THERE WAS RETURNED FIRE.
THE SUBJECT FLED THE AREA.
THE POLICE WERE SEARCHING THE
AREA FOR THE DESCRIPTION WE PUT
OUT EARLIER, A MAN WITH LONG
HAIR, IN A TRENCH COAT, THE
DESCRIPTION.
THEY MADE CONTACT WITH THE
INDIVIDUAL BY THE NAME OF IAN
MCPHERSON, AGE 32.
HE WAS ARRESTED AT A TIME FOR
RESISTING DETENTION.
THE POLICE HAVE FOLLOWED UP ON
EVIDENCE.
AT THIS TIME, WE CAN TELL YOU WE
HAVE SECURED ARREST WARRANTS FOR
MR. MCPHERSON FOR TWO COUNTS OF
ATTEMPTED CAPITAL *** FOR
SHOOTING AT BOTH OFFICERS WHO
WERE FULLY UNIFORMED AT THE TIME
THEY WERE SHOT AND INJURED.
CHIEF?
CHIEF WILLARD: GOOD AFTERNOON.
CHIEF OF MANCHESTER.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, TODAY WAS A
VERY DIFFICULT DAY FOR THE CITY
DEPARTMENT.
I'M GOING TO BE IDENTIFYING THE
TWO OFFICERS INJURED LAST NIGHT.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU GIVE THEM A
LEVEL OF PRIVACY AS THEY
NAVIGATE THE DIFFICULTIES AND
TRAUMA THEY JUST EXPERIENCED.
IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
COURAGEOUSLY.
LAST NIGHT, I SAW MEMBERS OF THE
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE POLICE, AND
OTHER LOCAL AND FEDERAL AGENCIES
COME TOGETHER TO DO AN
INCREDIBLY COURAGEOUS THING.
EVEN IN SPITE OF AN OFFICER
BEING DOWN, THEY CONTINUED TO
RUN AFTER THE SUBJECT.
AFTER A SECOND OFFICER WAS DOWN.
THEY CONTINUED AT THEIR OWN
SHOT TWO OFFICERS.
MY PROFOUND RESPECT FOR THE
OFFICERS OF THE MANCHESTER
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OFFICERS
ENFORCEMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE
INCIDENT TODAY.
I KNOW THE MEDIA HAD A THIRST
FOR INFORMATION.
WITH SOCIAL MEDIA THERE WAS A
LOT OF FALSE INFORMATION THAT
MADE YOUR APPETITES EVEN MORE
SALACIOUS, SO I DO APPRECIATE
THE FACT YOU WERE PATIENT WITH
BEEN.
THE INCIDENT TODAY OCCURRED WITH
OFFICER RYAN HARDY, AGE 27.
THE HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE
SINCE 2015.
PRIOR TO JOINING THE MANCHESTER
POLICE DEPARTMENT, HE WAS AN
OUTSTANDING POLICE OFFICER OR
THE DERRY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, POLICE
DEPARTMENT FOR TWO YEARS.
HE WAS THE FIRST OFFICER SHOT.
28.
HE HAS BEEN WITH THE MANCHESTER
2014.
HE SERVED PRIOR FOR SEVEN YEARS
DEPARTMENT.
HE IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL
GUARD WHO SERVED IN COMBAT IN
AFGHANISTAN IN 2010.
BOTH OFFICERS WERE SHOT AT
APPROXIMATELY 2:00 IN THE
MORNING AND 2:23 RESPECTIVELY.
OFFICER HARDY STOPPED THE
SUSPECT WHO MATCHED A
DESCRIPTION FROM AN ARMED
THE GAS STATION.
WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED THE
INDIVIDUAL, HE MATCHED THE
DESCRIPTION FROM THE ROBBERY OF
THE PREVIOUS EVENING.
INDIVIDUAL.
UPON STOPPING HIM ON 2ND STREET
AND FERRY STREET, THE SUBJECT
HIM TWICE.
ONCE IN THE FACE AND ONCE IN THE
DOWN TO HIS TORSO.
HE RADIOED FOR ASSISTANCE.
MANCHESTER OFFICERS ENGAGED IN
TRAPPING THE SUSPECT WITH A K-9
OFFICER.
THEY CLOAK VACATED -- THEY
LOCATED THE SUBJECT.
THE SUBJECT STARTED TO FIRE UPON
AM YOUR MAN."
OFFICER O'CONNOR WAS STRUCK BY A
HOSPITAL.
OFFICER MCGEE WAS NOT INJURED.
NO CHILDREN.
TWO SMALL CHILDREN.
OFFICER HARDY IS CURRENTLY BEING
TREATED AT A BOSTON HOSPITAL,
ONLY DUE TO HIS OWN REFERENCE
DUE TO PROXIMITY TO FAMILY SO
THEY HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO HIM.
CONDITION.
I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO
TAKE QUESTIONS.
FOR THIS MAN SHOOTING THE
OFFICERS?
CHIEF WILLARD: I DO NOT.
HE WAS BEING STOPPED AS A
SUSPECT IN AN ARMED ROBBERY THAT
OCCURRED THE NIGHT BEFORE
WEARING THE SAME CLOTHING.
YOU CAN SURMISE YOURSELF, BUT I
THAT.
>> DID YOU RECOVER THE WEAPON?
HAVE ON HIM?
CHIEF WILLARD: IT IS TOO EARLY
CASE SPECIFIC THINGS BECAUSE THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD NOT BE
HAPPY WITH ME.
>> AT 5:00, THE SUSPECT WAS
APPREHENDED?
CHIEF WILLARD: I BELIEVE SO.
>> THERE WAS A LARGE POLICE
PRESENCE IN THE AREA WITH
THIS MORNING.
DID YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE
OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED?
WHAT WERE THE HELICOPTERS DOING?
WHAT WAS GOING ON?
CHIEF WILLARD: WHEN WE KNEW WHAT
WE HAD A COZY SHOT ONE OF THE
THE SECOND TIME.
WE KNEW IT WAS ONE INDIVIDUAL.
POLICE FOR THEIR HELICOPTER.
IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE SO
US.
AIR.
WE BELIEVE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN
WHAT FLUSHED OUT THE INDIVIDUAL.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE]
CHIEF WILLARD: I DON'T KNOW YET.
BOTH OFFICERS WERE WEARING THEIR
BEST.
LEG.
>> YOU HAD THE COMMUNITY UNDER A
SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER FOR
SEVERAL HOURS.
WERE YOU NOT LOOKING FOR SOMEONE
AT THAT TIME?
WAS THAT NECESSARY?
CHIEF WILLARD: IT WAS NECESSARY
GOING ON.
OUR BELIEFS.
YOU HAVE TO BUILD A CASE.
IF WE FIND AN INDIVIDUAL IN THE
AREA AND BELIEVE IT IS THE
INDIVIDUAL, WE STILL HAVE TO
MAKE THE CASE TO SHOW IT IS HIM.
CAUSE.
THAT TAKES TIME TO DO THAT.
THAT WAS THE DELAY.
EVEN THEN, WE STILL WANT TO
INDIVIDUALS.
MAY HAVE DISCARDED.
THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS
ALLOW PEOPLE TO WALK AROUND THE
AREA FREELY, HAVE CHILDREN IN
DOING ELLMAN'S WORK.
THERE WAS A LOT OF STUFF TO DO.
SURE EVERYBODY WAS SAFE SO I
KNEW 100% IF I AM ONE TO PUT
CHILDREN IN HARM'S WAY THAT THEY
WILL BE WALKING TO THE CORNER
CALL.
I BELIEVE WITH THE MAYOR'S
DID.
APPREHENSION OF THE SUSPECT.
DID HE RESIST?
CHIEF WILLARD: HE COMPLIED WITH
CUSTODY.
>> WAS HE ARMED AT THE TIME?
SPECIFIC.
>> WAS HE WANTED?
WOUNDED.
>> WILL HE BE ARRAIGNED MONDAY?
>> WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION
ON MONDAY.
I WOULD ANTICIPATE LATER ON
MONDAY AT MANCHESTER DISTRICT
COURT, KNIGHTS CIRCUIT.
IT IS ATTEMPTED.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD -- UP TO
CHARGES.
>> CHIEF, YOU MENTIONED THE
HELICOPTER, SOURCES AT MASS
STATE POLICE ARE TELLING US THE
HELICOPTER PILOTS RESPONDED AND
FOUND HIM HIDING UNDER A PORCH.
CAN YOU PROVIDE THE LOCATION?
CHIEF WILLARD: I CANNOT
UNFORTUNATELY.
>> DID THE HELICOPTER PILOT SPOT
HIM HIDING UNDER A PORT?
CHIEF WILLARD: IT COULD BE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT.
>> CAN YOU TELL US HOW IMPORTANT
IT WAS FOR OFFICER HARDY TO
RADIO IN.
CHIEF WILLARD: HE WAS SHOT IN
THE FACE.
HE STILL HAD THE ABILITY AND
WHEREWITHAL TO CALL OUT HIS
SUCH A WAY THE OFFICERS KNEW
EXACTLY WHERE TO FIND HIM.
AREA.
HE WAS ABLE TO GIVE A
DESCRIPTION.
OFFICERS RESPONDED TO HIM WHILE
HE WAS DOWN.
INDIVIDUAL.
OFFICER HARDY'S REACTION TO
BEING SHOT IS BEYOND COURAGEOUS.
IT IS REMARKABLE.
>> HOW DID OFFICER HARDY COME TO
BE IN THE AREA WHERE HE
ENCOUNTERED IAN MCPHERSON?
WHAT DID HE KNOW ABOUT THE
SUSPECT FROM THE ARMED ROBBERY?
ROBBERY THE NIGHT BEFORE.
I BELIEVE WE PUT A SUBSCRIPTION
IDENTIFY THE CLOTHING.
HE SAW SOMEONE WITH SIMILAR
CLOTHING ON THE NEXT SHIFT.
IT IS REASONABLE TO BELIEVE THAT
ROBBERY THE PREVIOUS NIGHT.
HE WAS DOING HIS REGULAR PATROL
WORK BUT BEING VERY VIGILANT.
AT ONE POINT, I BELIEVE IT IS IN
THE PRESS RELEASE, HE SAID I
BELIEVE, "I AM YOUR MAN."
>> WHERE IS HE BEING HELD NOW?
CHIEF WILLARD: RIGHT NOW HE WILL
BE AT VALLEY STREET JAIL.
>> WOULD YOU SAY YOU'RE OFFICERS
ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE TONIGHT?
YOU SAY HE WAS SHOT IN THE FACE.
HOW WOULD YOU TERM YOUR OFFICER?
CHIEF WILLARD: I THINK THERE WAS
GRACE SHINING ON OFFICER HARDY.
YOU CANNOT DISCOUNT THAT WARRIOR
SPIRIT, THAT DESIRE TO LIVE,
THAT WILL TO SURVIVE.
HE PERMEATES THAT ATTITUDE.
HE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG MAN.
>> ARE YOU RELEASING PHOTOGRAPHS
OF THE OFFICERS?
THINK?
NOT YET.
>> THE SUSPECT?
CHIEF WILLARD: THAT WILL BE
FORTHCOMING.
POLICE?
CHIEF WILLARD: THAT I DON'T
KNOW.
>> THERE IS A PRESS RELEASE WITH
SPELLINGS.
CHIEF WILLARD: YOU SHOULD HAVE
OUT.
WHAT IS THAT?
HE IS AT A BOSTON HOSPITAL.
I CANNOT STRESS IT ENOUGH.
THE FAMILIES OF THE TWO DOWNED
VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
IT IS THEIR WORST FEAR.
THEY WANT THEIR HUSBANDS TO COME
HOME TO THEM SAFE.
I CANNOT EXPRESS IT ENOUGH.
PLEASE RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY.
IF NOT BUT FOR THE DAY OR A
WEEK, BUT IF YOU COULD RESPECT
THEIR PRIVACY WHILE THEY
NAVIGATE THE UNFORTUNATE TRAGEDY
THAT HAS BEFELL THEM.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.