In the quiet town of Ogdensburg, New York, the life of 50-year-old Philip B. Goolden was cut tragically short on Saturday, April 7, 2018. A lifelong resident of Ogdensburg, Goolden was a man known for his fun-loving nature and his dedication to his family. His unexpected death, the result of a fatal gunshot wound, sent ripples of shock and grief through the community that knew him well. He was a graduate of Ogdensburg Free Academy and had worked in construction for many years.
The events of that early Saturday morning unfolded at a residence on Jefferson Avenue. Police responded to a report of a gunshot and discovered Goolden inside, critically wounded. He was not a resident of the home where he was found. The investigation into his death quickly led to the arrest of Michael Gagnon, who was 52 at the time and lived at the residence where the shooting occurred. Gagnon was initially charged with second-degree murder and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
As the case prepared to go to trial in May 2019, Michael Gagnon opted for a plea deal. Just as jury selection was about to commence, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter. The St. Lawrence County District Attorney stated that the plea was offered in consultation with Goolden's wife, Bridget, to spare the family the ordeal of a trial. The motive for the shooting remained unclear, as Gagnon did not publicly state what transpired that night. The prosecution, however, maintained that the act was intentional and not a case of self-defense.
In July 2019, Michael Gagnon was sentenced in St. Lawrence County Court for the killing of Philip Goolden. Adhering to the terms of the plea agreement, he received a 12-year prison sentence, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision. The resolution of the legal proceedings brought a close to a painful chapter for Goolden's loved ones, though the questions surrounding his final moments may forever remain unanswered.
