N.H Officer Killed, attacker killed by passer-by

[TheFederalistWeasel]

N.H Officer Killed, attacker killed by passer-by
Miller cousin shot dead, officer killed in N.H.


Saturday, 12 May 2007

FRANCONIA, New Hampshire — A cousin of ski racing star Bode Miller fatally shot and ran over a police officer, then was killed by a passer-by who grabbed the officer's gun, authorities said Saturday.

Liko Kenney shot Cpl. Bruce McKay four times and ran over him after a traffic stop Friday evening, state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte said. Gregory Floyd, who was driving by with his son, grabbed McKay's gun and shot Kenney when he refused to put his gun down, Ayotte said.

The 24-year-old Kenney was convicted of assaulting McKay and resisting arrest in 2003. Ayotte had no other details of that previous incident between the men, and rejected suggestions the officer should have let someone else handle the traffic stop given his history with the driver.

Officials said McKay pulled Kenney over for speeding on Route 116. Kenney took off, and McKay pursued him for about 1 1/2 miles before pulling in front of Kenney's car and pushing it off the road.

The officer used pepper spray on Kenney and his passenger and then turned around and was shot, Ayotte said Saturday at a news conference in Concord. Soon after, Floyd arrived and confronted Kenney while his son called for help using the officer's radio. Authorities said Floyd was justified in shooting Kenney.

The 48-year-old McKay was a 12-year veteran of the Franconia Police Department.

"It really tears at the fabric of the community and the fabric of the state," said Gov. John Lynch, who visited the town of about 900 residents Saturday as people paid their respects and brought flowers to a police station.

Liko Kenney’s father is the brother of Jo Miller, Bode’s Miller mother. Bode Miller's father, Woody Miller, said there was a history of animosity between the officer and his nephew.

"They had a long relationship," said Woody Miller, who operates an international tennis camp in nearby Easton. "There's been physical altercations between them before in the course of being arrested."

Miller said Kenney, who lived next door to him, didn't have a steady job, but often took work cutting firewood and picking fiddlehead ferns, a wild green that grows in the region and is considered a delicacy.

Bode Miller, who once bailed his cousin out of jail, was on his way home to Franconia, his father said. Miller was in Park City, Utah, this week, meeting with officials of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. At that meeting, the former Olympic medalist told officials he was cutting his ties with the U.S. team.

The shooting happened near this town in the White Mountain National Forest, popular with skiers and tourists who visited the Old Man of the Mountain, a rock formation and the state's symbol that crumbled into pieces four years ago.

[nwilliams]

WOW!

Authorities said Floyd was justified in shooting Kenney.

Yeah I'd say he was! Give that man a medal, he did the right thing! Its just a shame about the officer, sounds like a horrible turn of events, just glad that the killer didn't get away with it.

[Oldskoolfan]

Well thats a shame that the officer died but at least it illustrates one of the benefits of CCW.

[mlandman]

The officer used pepper spray on Kenney and his passenger and then turned around and was shot

...and turned around?

Saddly, that answers the question of the efficacy of pepper spray.

[Lashlarue]

The passerby used the dead officers gun to kill the bad guy...

[Warren]

In NYC or England they would probably be prosecuting the passerby.

Good on him.

[qlajlu]

Originally Posted by Lashlarue

The passerby used the dead officers gun to kill the bad guy...

And that is the best reason to oppose "smart-gun" legislation.
Even if it were an officer's partner, a smart-gun would not work!

Yes, this is a true tragedy, but it is also a lesson...if they will only listen.

[It would be nice if a link to the story was also posted.]

[DevLcL]

I heard this story on the news tonight and I didn't catch the full stpry so naturally I had to come on here to find out more. A terrible shame that the officer was killed but GOSH DARN! The good guy just up and shot the bad guy.... And no carged filed! This is a semi-good story for gun lovers. Of course the anti's will you the old "if guns didn't exist in the first place". Like qlajlu stated "If they will only listen".

[the pistolero]

Link

And that is the best reason to oppose "smart-gun" legislation.

I am not so sure about that. I don't know about New York, but I think at least in New Jersey, it's only civilians who will be burdened with the "smart gun" technology; the police will be exempt.

[cheygriz]

Saddly, that answers the question of the efficacy of pepper spray.

No, it doesn't! And I speak from considerable experience, because I have USED pepper spray on several dozens of occassions.

And it has NEVER failed me.

But pepper spray is just like any other weapon. It has specific purposes and specific limitations. Pepper spray is a very short term weapon, useful for stopping a fight, gaining control of a suspect, and handcuffing him. It was never designed for, and should never be used as, a substitute for proper control techniques and handcuffs.

Batons, tasers, pepper spray, kubotans, etc all have a specific purpose, and ALL are effective when properly employed!

[VARifleman]

cheygriz...there is a correctional officer on this forum that has described the efficiency of pepperspray. Bascially, it is good as a blinding agent, but the pain can cause a surge of adrenline enraging the subject.

[pax]

cheygriz ~

Even when properly employed, there are a (small) number of people who are immune to the effects of pepper spray.

Just as there are a (small) number of people who do not react to any given pain-compliance technique. Just as there are a (small) number of folks who are capable of doing the drop-n-roll fast enough to avoid getting frozen by the taser. Just as there are a (small) number of folks who are able to fight past gunshot wounds, until they are shut down by blood loss five to ten minutes later.

No such thing as a weapon that is effective 100% of the time in 100% of the cases, even when employed properly.

That's no smear on the effectiveness of any given weapon in the vast majority of cases. It is simply a realistic assessment -- the kind of "this is what life is like" knowledge that you need to take into account whenever you deploy any weapon or any control technique.

Horrible story. My sympathy goes out to the officer's family and friends. Kudos to the good citizen who got involved, instead of walking by on the other side!

pax

[AR-15 Rep]

Glad to hear the BG was taken care of. This guy obviously has had dealings with the law before and was a bad situation waiting to happen. This guy had no respect for other peoples lives and needed to go away. I hate to hear an officer trying to do his job gets killed over a traffic stop gone bad.
Clearly there was a need for a better next action on the officers part. If you have to spray you should prepare for the next sequence of events. I think the passenger should be charged with something as well. The passenger probabley did some action that caused the officer to focus his attention away from what was happening. I can only guess that the passenger tried getting out of the vehicle to avoid the spray, the officer turned to go around the vehicle, or get a better view of what the passenger was doing, and that was just enough time for the BG to shoot the officer. On the same token the passenger shouldn't be responsible for what the other person is doing unless they have knowledge something was going to happen.
Overall I think anyone who is willing to take a life over a traffic stop, and a little pepper spray got what he deserved.
I think Floyd did the right thing by trying to disarm the guy and at last resort shoot him before he took another life.
I give out a thanks to Mr. Floyd for helping out the community, and hope other officers look at this tragedy and learn from it.

[lgsracer]

My prayers for the officer and his family. BZ to the passerby.

Killer slain with officer's gun

http://www.unionleader.com/article.a...8-299d170dd507

By PAT GROSSMITH
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
11 hours, 47 minutes ago


The cousin of famed skier Bode Miller who shot and killed a Franconia police officer was then shot and killed by a witness who used the slain officer's .45 caliber gun to do it.

Liko Kenney, 24, of Franconia, convicted in 2003 of assaulting Franconia Police Cpl. Bruce McKay, shot him dead Friday night and then ran over him with his Toyota, authorities said yesterday at a Concord press conference.

Passer-by Gregory W. Floyd, 49, a former Marine, witnessed the shooting and came to the officer's aid.

Floyd positioned his pickup truck to shield the fallen officer, grabbed McKay's .45 caliber gun and shot Kenney, who was in his car, holding his Colt .45 caliber handgun.

McKay's cruiser videotaped the incident. The tape shows McKay, who had not drawn his gun, being shot by Kenney, according to Attorney General Kelly Ayotte. McKay, a 12-year veteran of the Franconia Police Department, was not wearing a bullet-resistant vest.

"This is a terrible loss to our state," Ayotte said. "It once again reminds us of the difficult and dangerous work that is done every day by law enforcement of the state to protect each of us. The police officers of the state, including Cpl. McKay, are nothing short of heroes."

Gov. John Lynch directed all American and state flags be flown at half staff until further notice. Yesterday, he met with members of the Franconia community to extend his condolences and offer assistance.

"This terrible tragedy has impacted families, the Franconia area and the entire state of New Hampshire," Lynch said in a prepared statement. "My thoughts and prayers, and those of my wife, Susan, are with the family of Cpl. McKay, whose courage, service and commitment to protecting others is an example for us all."

Ayotte, Capt. Russell Conte of the State Police Major Crime Unit, and Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Strelzin, chief of the homicide division, detailed what happened Friday night when a routine traffic stop ended the lives of McKay and Kenney.

At 6:30 p.m., McKay pulled over the 1984 Toyota Celica Kenney was driving on Route 116 in Franconia for speeding and a problem with the car's registration. Caleb Macaulay, 21, Kenney's best friend and co-worker at Merrill's Agway in Littleton, was in the passengr seat.

Kenney asked for another officer to handle the traffic stop when he saw it was McKay who pulled him over, according to Conte and friends of Kenney.

McKay and Kenney had a long-standing dislike of each other, according to Kenney's friends and family. Kenney was convicted in 2003 of assaulting a police officer -- McKay -- and resisting arrest, Ayotte said.

Friday, when McKay refused to call in another officer, Kenney drove off. Rob Hayward, who said he talked with Macaulay, said Kenney drove off at a slow speed.

Conte said he did not know how fast McKay was driving when he overtook theToyota about 1 1/2 miles later on Route 116. Strelzin said McKay, who radioed in the pursuit and asked for backup, pulled his cruiser ahead of Kenney's car, forcing him to stop.

The officer then backed his cruiser into Kenney's Toyota, pushing it off the road and preventing Kenney from driving off a second time. McKay used a "small amount of force, not excessive" to move the car, Strelzin said.

The officer got out of his cruiser, walked up to the driver side of Kenney's car and pepper-sprayed both Kenney and Macauley.

Once he sprayed them, McKay walked away -- Conte said either to avoid the spray himself or to go back to his cruiser to check on something. Authorities don't know for sure.

Kenney fired his Colt .45, as McKay walked away, hitting the officer four times in the "upper trunk", according to Ayotte. She and Strelzin both said they had not seen the complete autopsy report and do not know if the officer was shot in the back or the chest. The bullet wounds killed him, according to the autopsy, they said.

McKay collapsed in the road, and then Kenney ran over him, pinning the officer under his car.

Authorities said Floyd and his son, Gregory P. Floyd, 21, were in their 4-door Tahoe and witnessed the shooting. Floyd, who told investigators he is a Marine veteran, immediately positioned his truck to shield the downed officer. Then he picked up McKay's gun, which was on the ground.

Ayotte said investigators are not sure if McKay drew his gun after he was hit by the shots or if it came loose after he was run over by the Toyota.

Floyd pointed the gun at Kenney, who was still in his car holding the Colt .45, and told him to drop the gun. When Kenney failed to comply, Floyd pulled the trigger, killing the 24-year-old man.

Ayotte said Floyd's actions appear to be a "justified use of deadly force."

Bode Miller, who once bailed his cousin out of jail, is en route to Franconia, his father said.

Merrill said Kenney was learning the job at Agway, was good with customers and had a "good future here . . . I think it's a shame it had to happen."

[AlaskaErik]

cheygriz...there is a correctional officer on this forum that has described the efficiency of pepperspray. Bascially, it is good as a blinding agent, but the pain can cause a surge of adrenline enraging the subject.

I've been around a number of OC applications. End result...the sprayee breaks weak and gives up. And if you let them stew in it for a while, they'll be begging for relief.

[Biker]

It was the worst stuff *I* ever experienced...even worse than my second marriage.

Biker

[natjan]

In NYC or England they would probably be prosecuting the passerby.

You are correct in England the passerby would have ended up being arrested & jailed for manslaughter. ( although being a soldier he would probably been freed on appeal or given a suspended sentance )

[pax]

I've been around a number of OC applications. End result...the sprayee breaks weak and gives up. And if you let them stew in it for a while, they'll be begging for relief.

In my OC class, I watched one skinny little redhead take three solid hits of Fox spray, shrug, and ask, "Was that it?" She then looked around (eyes wide open), and -- directed to the water buckets -- splashed a purely token sprinkle of water on her face before stepping away to watch the rest of the class.

pax

[10 Ring Tao]

McKay, a 12-year veteran of the Franconia Police Department, was not wearing a bullet-resistant vest.

Doing traffic stops without a vest?

[qlajlu]

Now hold on! Something is not making any sense here. What is missing?

From the article in lgsracer's post:

McKay's cruiser videotaped the incident. The tape shows McKay, who had not drawn his gun, being shot by Kenney, according to Attorney General Kelly Ayotte.

So they have a video that shows the officer "being shot by Kenney" and they can't tell us if McKay was shot in the back?

I'm not saying something smells fishy but we're missing some vital information!

Originally Posted by 10 Ring Tao

Doing traffic stops without a vest?

10 Ring Tao, being a very small department, I can understand why the officer didn't have a vest. They don't just give those things away. The department probably couldn't afford it and I doubt officers of a small department make the kind of change required to buy one.

[Rachen]

That was truly incredible. This really shows that Americans are aware of the perils in their communities. It is time to take the streets and the alleys back from the night prowlers, the mercenaries, and the misfits. America belongs to Americans, we must revive the nationalism that Thomas Jefferson set down for us so long ago.

Gregory Floyd is a TRUE HERO. We must be wary of weak Liberal education, those who tell us that we sit still like obedient dogs when a madman is shooting up a classroom, and revive the spirit that creates strong men.

WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO STAY OFF THE STREETS AFTER DARK BECAUSE THE CRIMINALS ARE TAKING OVER. THE STREETS BELONG TO THE PEOPLE.

RON PAUL FOR 2008!!!!!

[AR-15 Rep]

I still think there is some facts missing from the whole incident. I may be wrong but doesn't most video from cruisers show the front view only? I guess they could easily show the rear but?? if the officer pushed the front of the car with his cruiser, would he then block the rear of the car, or stay in front? what made him turn away from the individuals inside the car? was the passenger getting out of the car? all sorts of questions.

[Desertdog]

Passing citizen kills police officer's murderer
Beverly Wang - Associated Press Writer
OneNewsNow.com
http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/05/pa...s_police_o.php


FRANCONIA, N.H. - A cousin of skiing star Bode Miller fatally shot and ran over a police officer Friday, but was then killed by a passer-by who stopped to help the officer.

Liko Kenney shot Cpl. Bruce McKay four times and ran over him after a traffic stop Friday evening, state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte said. Gregory Floyd, who was driving by with his son, grabbed the officer's gun and shot Kenney when the attacker refused to put his gun down, Ayotte said.

The 24-year-old Kenney had been convicted of assaulting McKay and resisting arrest in 2003. Ayotte had no other details of that previous incident between the men, and rejected suggestions the officer should have let someone else handle the traffic stop given his history with the driver.

Officials said McKay pulled Kenney over for speeding on Route 116. Kenney took off, and McKay pursued him for about 1 1/2 miles before pulling in front of Kenney's car and pushing it off the road.

The officer used pepper spray on Kenney and his passenger, but was shot when he turned around to return to his vehicle, Ayotte said Saturday at a news conference in Concord. Soon after, Floyd arrived and confronted Kenney with the dying officer's gun while his son called for help using the McKay's radio. Authorities said Floyd was justified in shooting Kenney.

The 48-year-old McKay was a 12-year veteran of the Franconia Police Department.

"It really tears at the fabric of the community and the fabric of the state," said Gov. John Lynch, who visited the town of about 900 residents Saturday as people paid their respects and brought flowers to a police station.

Bode Miller's father, Woody Miller, said there was a history of animosity between the officer and his nephew.

"They had a long relationship," said Miller, who operates an international tennis camp in nearby Easton. "There's been physical altercations between them before in the course of being arrested."

Miller said Kenney, who lived next door to him, didn't have a steady job, but often took work cutting firewood and picking fiddlehead ferns, a wild green that grows in the region and is considered a delicacy.

Bode Miller, who once bailed his cousin out of jail, was on his way home to Franconia, his father said. Miller was in Park City, Utah, this week, meeting with officials of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. At that meeting, the former Olympic medalist told officials he was cutting his ties with the U.S. team.

The shooting happened near this town in the White Mountain National Forest, popular with skiers and tourists who visited the Old Man of the Mountain, a rock formation and the state's symbol that crumbled into pieces four years ago.

[cheygriz]

cheygriz ~

Even when properly employed, there are a (small) number of people who are immune to the effects of pepper spray.

Absolutely correct. And there are a small number of people that will only become enraged when hit COM with a couple of .45s.


But pepper spray has never failed ME in several dozen uses, and my son has a stopped a bear with it when he was a park ranger.

I guess my problem with the previous post is that someone who has never been personally sprayed with it really has no idea how bad it is. Mace was extremely effective on MOST people, (certainly not all) and in my experience having used both, pepper is 10X more effective than Mace. (On MOST people)

[Rattlesnake]

turns out the Good Samaritan was a Marine. Good shooting Mr. Floyd.

RIP Officer McKay.