GREENLAND – Multiple law enforcement sources have confirmed to the Union Leader that Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney was killed and four other officers were wounded in a shootout at a Post Road home Thursday night.
Police remain outside of the home of Cullen Mutrie, 29, of 517 Post Road, where a man and a woman have remained barricaded since earlier Thursday evening. Police showed up at the Post Road home to serve a search warrant and discovered that a drug deal may have been taking place.
A law enforcement source said two drug task force agents and Maloney were shot. Several sources say Maloney was shot in the head.
WMUR-TV reported that Maloney was due to retire on April 20.
Shortly before 11 p.m., Tammy Sullivan, a neighbor who witnessed the shooting, said police continued to surround the residence and were trying to negotiate with the man who remained holed up inside. An armored SWAT team vehicle was in front of the home while a second was behind it.
“They have the house completely surrounded and trying to get him out. They're asking him to use his cell phone if he has a cell phone. They're telling him they don't want anybody else hurt and they want this to be a safe night,” Sullivan said.
An emotional Sullivan said she knows Maloney personally and is shocked by the incident.
“We're all such a close-knit community. It's really sad,” she said.
Mutrie was indicted on charges of possession of a controlled drug last May for having a variety of anabolic steroids, court documents show.
Hampton Falls Fire Chief Jay Lord said Mutrie is a former volunteer member of the Hampton Falls Fire Department. Lord said he was “no longer a member as of two years ago.”
“My thoughts and prayers are with our brothers in public safety,” he said.
Rockingham County Attorney James Reams said that shots were fired inside the home and multiple police officers were injured. In addition to Maloney's injuries, one of the police officers was shot in the shoulder, and another sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the injuries.
A large contingent of various law enforcement agencies, including special response teams began responding to 517 Post Road around 6:30 p.m.
The injured police officers have been taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
Reams said the Seacoast Emergency Response Team along with other SWAT teams are on the scene.
Sullivan said she saw three police officers shot when she looked out her window after hearing multiple gunshots.
“I saw the officers shot from the house and I saw them go down. They were running from the house and the guy started shooting like crazy. All of a sudden cops came flying from everywhere. I saw a lot of officers running around,” she said.
Sullivan lives across the street from 517 Post Road where the shooting occurred.
Sullivan said the SWAT vehicle moved in behind the house just after 8:30 p.m.
Police told Sullivan to stay in her basement.
Dozens of state and local police cruisers, ambulances are lining the road, and numerous others are parked at Greenland Central School. And there are reports of snipers being set up in the area.
A police officer directing traffic is also telling motorists that the incident involves an “officer shooting.”
