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Memorial service held in Colebrook to recollect victims of capturing rampage

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Memorial service held in Colebrook to recollect victims of capturing rampage

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A memorial service was held Friday in Colebrook to recollect the victims of a capturing rampage 25 years in the past.A marker sits in Monument Park subsequent to the News and Sentinel constructing the place two of the victims died. Two New Hampshire state troopers, a choose and a newspaper editor had been killed after a person went on a capturing rampage.Carl Drega killed 4 individuals and wounded 4 others in Colebrook on Aug. 19, 1997.The reminiscences of the shootings are nonetheless uncooked for the residents of the North Country city.”We don’t talk about it. Never talk about it,” mentioned Linda Tillotson, of Colebrook. “It was too painful a memory.”New Hampshire state troopers Scott Phillips and Leslie Lord, Judge Vickie Bunnel and newspaper editor Dennis Joos had been killed on Aug. 19, 1997. Drega’s rampage started after Phillips pulled him over within the car parking zone of an IGA.”Scott gets out of his cruiser, and Drega brandishes an assault rifle and opens fire on Scott,” retired state police Lt. Chuck West mentioned.West and retired state police Sgt. Tom Yorke had been amongst those that responded to the capturing.”Meanwhile, Les Lord pulls up right around the entrance to the parking lot,” West mentioned. “At some point, Drega advanced on him.”Drega stole Phillips’ cruiser and drove to Bunnell’s workplace, which was in the identical constructing because the Colebrook News and Sentinel. She noticed Drega coming and warned others, however she was shot and killed as she ran.”Dennis Joos very heroically tried to intervene,” West mentioned. “He grabbed Drega, got into a physical altercation and subsequently was shot and killed right there on the lawn.”Drega fled, stopping to set his home on hearth. He crossed into Vermont and shot at Fish and Game Officer Wayne Saunders, who was pursuing him. A bullet fired by Drega went via Saunders’ windshield, however he was saved when the bullet hit his badge.Drega drove up a logging highway and hid within the woods, the place he ambushed officers, together with West, as they headed in.”That’s when (state Trooper) Jeff Caulder was shot,” West mentioned.An officer who ran in to rescue Caulder was additionally shot and injured. After they tried to tug each injured officers to security, West and one other officer superior and noticed Drega aiming at them from behind a tree.”So we fired before he did, and it was over,” West mentioned.A memorial to the victims is within the heart of city. Below the names of the victims is the inscription, “Their deeds are their memorials.””The judge was a dear friend of ours, my husband and I, and Dennis Joos, he was a beautiful man,” Tillotson mentioned. “He really was a gentle, beautiful man.”Phillips left behind a younger household.”He was a perfect fit for the North Country,” Yorke mentioned. “He was a very likable person. He did a very good job.”Lord, who was near retirement, was Yorke’s brother-in-law.”Leslie, his nickname was Lucky, he was a happy-go-lucky type person,” Yorke mentioned.Route 3 heading out and in of city is called in honor of the troopers.”It was a knife that cut really deep, and it’s just something that doesn’t go away,” Yorke mentioned.

A memorial service was held Friday in Colebrook to recollect the victims of a capturing rampage 25 years in the past.

A marker sits in Monument Park subsequent to the News and Sentinel constructing the place two of the victims died.

Two New Hampshire state troopers, a choose and a newspaper editor had been killed after a person went on a capturing rampage.

Carl Drega killed 4 individuals and wounded 4 others in Colebrook on Aug. 19, 1997.

The reminiscences of the shootings are nonetheless uncooked for the residents of the North Country city.

“We don’t talk about it. Never talk about it,” mentioned Linda Tillotson, of Colebrook. “It was too painful a memory.”

New Hampshire state troopers Scott Phillips and Leslie Lord, Judge Vickie Bunnel and newspaper editor Dennis Joos had been killed on Aug. 19, 1997. Drega’s rampage started after Phillips pulled him over within the car parking zone of an IGA.

“Scott gets out of his cruiser, and Drega brandishes an assault rifle and opens fire on Scott,” retired state police Lt. Chuck West mentioned.

West and retired state police Sgt. Tom Yorke had been amongst those that responded to the capturing.

“Meanwhile, Les Lord pulls up right around the entrance to the parking lot,” West mentioned. “At some point, Drega advanced on him.”

Drega stole Phillips’ cruiser and drove to Bunnell’s workplace, which was in the identical constructing because the Colebrook News and Sentinel. She noticed Drega coming and warned others, however she was shot and killed as she ran.

“Dennis Joos very heroically tried to intervene,” West mentioned. “He grabbed Drega, got into a physical altercation and subsequently was shot and killed right there on the lawn.”

Drega fled, stopping to set his home on hearth. He crossed into Vermont and shot at Fish and Game Officer Wayne Saunders, who was pursuing him. A bullet fired by Drega went via Saunders’ windshield, however he was saved when the bullet hit his badge.

Drega drove up a logging highway and hid within the woods, the place he ambushed officers, together with West, as they headed in.

“That’s when (state Trooper) Jeff Caulder was shot,” West mentioned.

An officer who ran in to rescue Caulder was additionally shot and injured. After they tried to tug each injured officers to security, West and one other officer superior and noticed Drega aiming at them from behind a tree.

“So we fired before he did, and it was over,” West mentioned.

A memorial to the victims is within the heart of city. Below the names of the victims is the inscription, “Their deeds are their memorials.”

“The judge was a dear friend of ours, my husband and I, and Dennis Joos, he was a beautiful man,” Tillotson mentioned. “He really was a gentle, beautiful man.”

Phillips left behind a younger household.

“He was a perfect fit for the North Country,” Yorke mentioned. “He was a very likable person. He did a very good job.”

Lord, who was near retirement, was Yorke’s brother-in-law.

“Leslie, his nickname was Lucky, he was a happy-go-lucky type person,” Yorke mentioned.

Route 3 heading out and in of city is called in honor of the troopers.

“It was a knife that cut really deep, and it’s just something that doesn’t go away,” Yorke mentioned.

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