New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald and State Police Colonel Christopher J. Wagner announce that the attached preliminary report has been completed regarding the investigation into the officer involved shooting of Bryan G. Evans that occurred in Hopkinton, New Hampshire on May 19, 2017. The report which is attached concludes that based on all the facts and circumstances New Hampshire State Police Trooper Michael Arteaga and New London Police Officer James MacKenna were each justified in the use of deadly force when each officer discharged his firearm at Evans.

The police officers involved in the incident have been fully cooperative with the investigation and all have been interviewed. The final interview with one of the involved police officers was completed today allowing for the release of this preliminary report.

This report is limited and not fully detailed because there are pending criminal charges against Evans for his actions before, during and after the shooting incident. The New Hampshire Rules of Professional Conduct, applicable in this case, limit what attorneys may reveal about a pending matter. In particular, New Hampshire Rule of Professional Conduct 3.6 states that "(a) lawyer who is participating or has participated in the investigation or litigation of a matter shall not make an extrajudicial statement that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know will be disseminated by means of public communication and will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding in the matter". Since there are pending charges against Evans for his conduct before, during and after the incident, certain details are being withheld at this juncture in accordance with the dictates of the above rule. However once Evans's criminal charges have concluded, the Attorney General's Office will issue a fully detailed final report on this officer involved shooting incident.

Attorney General's Preliminary Report