Carl Drega
Carl Drega | |
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Born | AR-15 | January 19, 1935
Carl Drega (January 19, 1935 – August 19, 1997) was an American spree killer who killed four people in Colebrook, New Hampshire, on August 19, 1997.
Drega had several long-term disputes with town and state government officials over his property in
Background
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Carl Drega was born on January 19, 1935, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Polish immigrants.[1] He claimed to have served in the U.S. military during the Korean War.[1] Drega later worked in construction and lived in Manchester, New Hampshire, later moving into a home in Bow, New Hampshire, he built for himself and his wife Rita from 1969 to 1970.[1] However, Rita was diagnosed with cancer the following year and died in 1972.[1]
Drega had a long history of conflict with government officials over code enforcement issues, starting in the 1970s over whether he could use
Shooting
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On August 19, 1997, at about 2:30 p.m.,
Trooper Leslie Lord pulled into the LaPerle's parking lot moments later, and from approximately 150 feet (45 m) away, Drega shot and killed Lord before he could get out of his police car. Drega then stole Phillips' police car, and drove to the office of Colebrook District Court judge Vickie Bunnell. Bunnell reportedly carried a handgun in her purse out of fear of Drega, but may not have had it with her that day. Seeing Drega approaching the building with his rifle, she warned fellow staffers to evacuate as she ran for an exit. Drega shot Bunnell in the back from a range of about 30 feet (9.1 m), killing her. Dennis Joos, editor of the local Colebrook News and Sentinel, attempted to disarm Drega after Bunnell fell. During the struggle Drega shot and killed Joos.
Drega returned to his property and set his house on fire. New Hampshire Fish & Game Warden Wayne Saunders observed Drega driving the state police car. Drega turned and crossed the state line to Bloomfield, Vermont, exited the police car and fired upon Saunders. Saunders was hit with several bullets through his vehicle in his arm and shoulder, including one that struck his badge, saving him from a likely fatal wound. Saunders retreated under the hail of fire by driving in reverse, and crashing into the Connecticut River.
Drega set up his last stand on a dead end road on the Vermont side of the river. Police from numerous state, local and federal agencies descended upon Drega's position. Drega sprang his ambush, shooting NH state trooper Jeffrey Caulder in the lower abdomen, NH state trooper Robert Haase in the foot, and U.S. Border Patrol agent John Pfeifer in the chest.
After the gunfire died down, agents moved a police vehicle to the scene in an attempt to evacuate Pfeifer before he bled to death. But once the vehicle approached, Drega began firing again, forcing the officers to take cover. Eventually, NH state trooper Charles West and Border Patrol agent Stephen Brooks advanced up a slope to Drega's position. As Drega stepped out from behind a tree to fire, Brooks opened up with his
Memorials
U.S. Route 3 between Pittsburg and Colebrook is named the Trooper Leslie G. Lord Highway and from Colebrook to North Stratford the Trooper Scott E. Phillips Highway.[4] The Vickie Bunnell Preserve surrounds Bunnell Mountain (formerly Blue Mountain) in Columbia. A memorial stone to the four murder victims was erected by the town of Colebrook near the News and Sentinel building. Below their names is the inscription, "Their Deeds Are Their Memorials".
Sources
- "Bringing A Pistol To A Rifle Fight" by Massad Ayoob Archived 2006-06-28 at the Wayback Machine
References
- ^ a b c d e Walsh, Pamela M. (August 23, 1997). "Drega: Origins". Concord Monitor. Concord, New Hampshire. p. 3. Retrieved July 8, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Wulf, Steve (September 1, 1997). "A Time Bomb Explodes". Time. Archived from the original December 29, 2008.
- ^ Scoville, Dean (February 25, 2011). "Shots Fired: Bloomfield, Vermont 08/19/1997" Archived 2014-08-26 at the Wayback Machine, policeman.com. Accessdate July 28, 2022.
- ^ "New Memorial Highway Signs, Colebrook, New Hampshire". NH.gov (Press release). New Hampshire Department of Safety. May 15, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
Further reading
- Blechl, Robert (August 19, 2017). "Colebrook Shootings, 20 Years Later: Remembering The Victims And The Resiliency Of A Small Community". The Caledonian-Record.
- ISBN 9781611687156.
- Macdonald, Jim (August 19, 2008). "Carl Drega, Part III". Making Light. Archived from the original on August 23, 2008 – via Wayback Machine.
Pictures, taken 19 August 2008
See also: Part I, Part II - ISBN 0967025923.