Police chief killed, 4 officers shot in Greenland, NH

GREENLAND, N.H. (WHDH) -- A New Hampshire police chief was shot and killed, and four other officers injured, during a drug raid at a Greenland, N.H. home Thursday night.

Four police officers from a drug task force knocked on the door of 517 Post Road in Greenland, armed with an arrest warrant for Cullen Mutrie. But Mutrie allegedly held them off with gunfire blazing.

“It was scary,” said Tammy Hardy, a witness. “The gunfire's going off, which sounded like firecrackers to me, and then when I looked out the window I noticed cops were running from the house, running for their lives.”

Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney, only eight days from his retirement, died Thursday. An autopsy showed he died from a gunshot wound to the head. The 26-year veteran of the force had served as Chief for 12 years. Sources tell 7News he wasn't part of the team but was answering a call for shots fired when he was gunned down near his vehicle. Sources also telling 7News he didn't even know the drug raid was going down

“I saw the three cops fall to the ground. I don’t know what happened to the fourth because at that point in time I had to get my girls to safety and get them downstairs because I knew that this wasn’t a joke,” said Hardy.

After nearly an all-night standoff with the alleged shooter police used a robot with camera to determine that Mutrie and an unidentified woman were dead inside his home. Sources also telling 7News the house was like a fortress, steel doors, cameras everywhere and what seemed like a sniper stand in the back yard. The two, according to sources were found in the basement. Autopsies to be performed Saturday should determine whether their deaths were the result of a murder-suicide or a double suicide. Two officers were critically wounded, but the chief’s death rocked the 3,500-person community to its core -- and the state of New Hampshire.

“This was obviously a terrible tragedy here in New Hampshire and I know I speak for everyone in New Hampshire when I say our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Chief Maloney, as well as the officers and the families of the other four involved,” said Governor John Lynch.

Neighbors say the home where gunfire erupted has been trouble since Mutrie moved in two years ago.

“When you see lights on at 4 o’clock in the morning and you see vehicles coming in and out and they have cameras mounted on their porch looking out to see people coming in,” said Tim Fisher, a neighbor.

For their families, Thursday night’s violence was terrifying.

“[Mutrie has] been waiting for them, so he knew that this was all happening. So his gun was loaded and ready to go,” said Hardy.

The other officers shot were: Detective Gregory Turner, 32, a six-year veteran of the Dover police department, who was treated for a gunshot wound to the shoulder and released; Detective Eric Kulberg, 31, a seven-year veteran of the University of New Hampshire police department, who was treated for a gunshot wound to the arm and released; Detective Scott Kukesh, 33, a 10-year veteran of the Newmarket police department, underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to the chest; and Detective Jeremiah Murphy, 34, a seven-year veteran of the Rochester police department, who was in intensive care after surgery for a gunshot wound to the chest.

“At this time both are comfortable, their conditions are stable and their families are at their sides,” said Dr. Timothy Pike of Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

Governor John Lynch ordered flags lowered to half-staff across the state Friday morning.

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