N.H. town tries to comprehend 2 killings

Friends describe officer, shooter

By Maria Cramer and Erin Conroy, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent  |  May 14, 2007

FRANCONIA, N.H. -- The flag-draped casket of Police Corporal Bruce McKay will be placed at the Town Hall Wednesday, when hundreds of officers from across the country are expected to appear to view his body. McKay was gunned down Friday night by a 24-year-old local man who, moments later, was shot and killed by a motorist who witnessed the bloody confrontation, police say.

Officials in Franconia said yesterday the viewing will be followed Thursday by a memorial service at Echo Lake, which overlooks the craggy White Mountain range around Franconia. Guests are expected to include Governor John Lynch of New Hampshire.

The officials had deliberated for hours in Town Hall over how to remember the 48-year-old officer. McKay was a devoted, disciplined policeman who took his job seriously, said Franconia Officer Chris Fowler, 33, who had been trained by McKay, a 12-year veteran and one of three full-time officers on Franconia's force.

"I'd like to see a full police funeral, with honors," Fowler said. "I think he deserves that."

The ski-resort town was still reeling yesterday over the shooting of McKay.

Police said McKay initially pulled Liko Kenney over for speeding. Kenney , who had fought with McKay in the past, was in his Toyota Celica, returning from his job at Agway, a nursery in neighboring Littleton, with Caleb Macaulay , a 21-year-old co-worker. According to authorities, Kenny refused the traffic stop, telling McKay to "get another officer." McKay then followed him and cut him off with his cruiser on Route 116, approached the car, and sprayed OC spray, an irritant similar to pepper spray, at Kenney and Macaulay, authorities said. McKay began to walk back to his cruiser when Kenney shot him four times, then backed over his body with his car, they said.

A former Marine, Gregory W. Floyd, who was driving by on Route 116 with his son, pulled over, grabbed McKay's service weapon, and fatally shot Kenney when Kenney refused to put down his own weapon, police said. A man who came out of the house listed as Floyd's residence in Woodsville refused to speak with a reporter Saturday. Yesterday, there was a "No Trespassing" sign outside the house.

Macaulay could not be reached by the Globe yesterday, but he told Fox 25 that Kenney asked McKay multiple times for another officer, "just to back up, or another officer as a witness, and he was denied that.

"I've never seen Liko so scared in his life," said a visibly shaken Macaulay. "I don't know if I'll be the same or anything. The things I saw that day I wouldn't even put on my worst enemy."

Town residents yesterday were still trying to take in the violent conclusion to apparent tensions that existed between the two men since 2003, when Kenney was convicted of assaulting McKay. Kenney had challenged the assault charge and alleged that McKay had assaulted him and broke his jaw, but he lost the case because no one could corroborate his account.

People who knew Kenney struggled yesterday to reconcile their image of him with the brutal killing of McKay.

"He was just a gentle hippie from the north country," said Julie Hohmeister , 49. She said she last saw Kenney two weeks ago when he adopted some of her 4-day-old chicks.

Kenney's boss at Agway, Don Merrill , said Kenney was constantly talking about how he felt threatened by McKay.

"He was caught in the corner and had nowhere to turn," Merrill said of Kenney.

Bill Kenney said his nephew's actions may have resulted from rage after being sprayed with OC spray. But, Bill Kenney said, his nephew's actions were inexcusable. "He ran him over," he said. "It was his fury."

Fowler, the officer who worked with McKay, said police usually use OC or pepper spray to prevent violence. "Spray is used so that more enforcement doesn't have to be used," he said.

A couple of years ago, McKay and another officer were called to Profile High School to serve court papers to a 15-year-old male student. The student, a large teenager with a temper, resisted being taken away by the officers, said the school's principal, Richard Larcom, and the officers subdued the teen with pepper spray.

"I'm not going to say it was right or wrong," Larcom said. "I can tell you it did precipitate some very in-depth reflection."

Fowler said he was not allowed to discuss the shooting Friday, but said he wanted people to know his friend was a good officer. "Bruce took every case seriously . . . that's a good thing. He was not afraid to do his job."

Maria Cramer can be reached at mcramer@globe.com.