File photo Ian MacPherson, 33, former Merrimack resident most recently of Manchester

BRENTWOOD – Ian MacPherson, the former Merrimack resident charged a year and a half ago with attempted capital murder for allegedly shooting two Manchester police officers, has reached a plea agreement that will be the subject of a February hearing, a court spokeswoman said Tuesday.

MacPherson, 33, described by family and friends as a “sweetheart,” a “kind” and “funny” man who loved playing and listening to music but also struggled with untreated, or under-treated mental health problems, has agreed to enter guilty pleas to some or all of the charges at a plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. on Feb. 8 in Rockingham County Superior Court, according to Carole Alfano, communications manager for the state Judicial Branch.

MacPherson is facing two counts each of attempted capital murder and first-degree assault, but because documents spelling out the terms of the agreement have not yet been filed in court, it’s not known exactly what charges he agreed to plead guilty to.

Also unknown at present is the sentence that prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to recommend to the judge at the hearing.

Attorney Aileen O’Connell, a public defender who is representing MacPherson, is away on vacation and unable to be reached for comment.

MacPherson, whose last known address is 73 Dionne Drive, Apt. 3 in Manchester, is accused of shooting Officers Ryan Hardy and Matthew O’Connor within a span of 30 minutes early the morning of May 13, 2016, at two different locations on Manchester’s West Side.

Police affidavits filed at the time state that Hardy first had contact with MacPherson just after 2 a.m., when he pulled over to speak with a man who matched the description of an armed-robbery suspect.

Seconds later, Hardy shouted “shots fired!” and “I’ve been shot,” according to the affidavit. He was rushed to Catholic Medical Center.

Local and state police flooded the area, and a short time later O’Connor and several state troopers spotted the man, later identified as MacPherson.

He reportedly told the officers “I am the guy you are looking for,” then allegedly raised a handgun, pointed it at O’Connor and began firing, the reports state.

O’Connor was hit in the leg; the officers returned fire, but MacPherson ran into nearby woods. Scores of additional officers arrived, and about two hours later one of them spotted MacPherson.

He was taken into custody without further incident.

That MacPherson, a 2002 Merrimack High School graduate, was accused of shooting two police officers left many who know him in shock.

“It just doesn’t make sense,” longtime friend and fellow 2002 MHS graduate Lindsey Steinetz said several days after MacPherson’s arrest.

“He certainly wasn’t in a right state of mind,” she said, adding that the MacPherson she knew was afraid of guns.

His father, Russell MacPherson, was present at his son’s arraignment in a Manchester courtroom.

“We’re here to support Ian … he’s been suffering from mental illness issues for a long, long time,” an emotional MacPherson said following the brief

arraignment.

“Hopefully, he’s going to get help for that,” he said.

Another longtime friend, Brien Sweet, said at the time that it seemed MacPherson was misunderstood by a lot of people, but that he saw MacPherson as “a funny, passionate guy … always concerned about the well-being of those within his circle.”

Steinetz, meanwhile, said she and MacPherson occasionally crossed paths over the years.

“Ian was Goth,” she said, referring to the music-inspired fad characterized by dark clothing, heavy, dark makeup and an abundance of jewelry. “He might have looked scary, but he was my friend and I knew he wasn’t like that.”

But the last time she saw him, Steintez said MacPherson seemed to stare right through her. “It was like he wasn’t even there,” she said. “It was sad … he’s actually a real sweetheart. I don’t think he even realized he needed help.”

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 594-1256, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_DeanS.

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