Man in Manchester officer shooting held on $1M bail

MANCHESTER, N.H. (WHDH) -- A New Hampshire man accused of opening fire on a police officer in Manchester was held on $1 million bail on Thursday.

Myles Webster, 22, is accused of shooting officer Daniel Doherty on Wednesday. He faces felony attempted murder charges.

Prosecutor Maureen O'Neil said Webster fired 15 rounds at Doherty and “essentially emptied his weapon.” She added that Doherty sustained serious bodily injury.

Doherty was shot five times in the torso and the leg.

Prosecutors did not say what led up to the Wednesday evening shooting near Wayne and Putnam Streets. People who live in the neighborhood say they heard a number of gunshots, went outside and saw the officer lying in the middle of the road.

“I see the cop on the ground and I started running over there. One of my friend’s dad went over there and he just seen the cop on the ground bleeding and we tried helping him,” said John Russell, a witness. “His leg was really bad.”

Doherty was rushed to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He is currently listed in serious, but stable condition.

Doherty, 25, is a Massachusetts native who has been with Manchester police for 3.5 years. The officer’s family left the courtroom Thursday protected by police.

"I can tell you one thing about him. Anybody that knows him knows he's a very strong person. He has his family with him. They gathered around him. He has his Manchester police family around him so we're very optimistic," said Chief Dave Mara, Manchester Police Department.

Investigators say a gun was recovered, and that they believe Webster acted alone.

"At this point, we have one individual in custody. We do not anticipate bringing any charges against any other individuals in this case," said Karen Gorham, assistant county attorney.

Some residents say the neighborhood has become drug infested over the years and want the police to provide them more answers.

"Why are we speculating and putting more fear into the people that are living here for 15 or more years?" said Michael Lavee, a neighborhood watch volunteer.

In 2008, Webster was charged with attempted armed robbery. He was out on federal probation for illegal gun charges. Webster will return to court on April 4.

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