Father of Man Who Shot Manchester, New Hampshire, Officers Speaks Out

Russell MacPherson says he's angry and heartbroken over what happened

The father of Ian MacPherson, the suspect accused of shooting two Manchester, New Hampshire, police officers, spoke to necn about his son on Tuesday.

Russell MacPherson said his son is a paranoid schizophrenic who was arrested for assaulting him a few times.

"He broke my nose and slammed my head into the ground," Russell MacPherson said.

He said the mental health system and courts had Ian in their custody numerous times and "knew of his condition... and just let him walk."

Ian MacPherson is accused of shooting two officers on Friday morning after officers attempted to question MacPherson in an armed robbery of a gas station.

Russell MacPherson said he's angry his son was able to legally purchase a weapon from Chester Arms in Derry, New Hampshire, and considers this a loophole in the gun laws. He said it appears the background check "never happened."

The owner of Chester Arms said he did not want to comment for fear of jeopardizing the investigation.

Russell MacPherson was not afraid to place blame on the state for what he calls a lack of proper treatment.

"If Ian is the one who assaulted those officers, that's an injustice to this state, this country as a whole," he said.

He and his family are thankful that both officers are going to recover.

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