On a summer day in Colebrook, New Hampshire, the life of 45-year-old Leslie Lord, a Caucasian male and a dedicated New Hampshire State Trooper, was brought to a sudden and violent end. The date was August 19, 1997, a day that would become infamous in the state's history for the tragic loss of four lives. Lord, a respected lawman who had previously served as the police chief in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, from 1975 to 1987, was unaware that his routine patrol would place him in the path of a
long-simmering rage.
The incident began in a supermarket parking lot when Trooper Scott Phillips initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Carl Drega, a local resident known for his repeated disputes with local authorities. Without warning, Drega exited his vehicle and opened fire on Trooper Phillips with an assault rifle. Phillips was wounded and attempted to return fire. It was at this critical moment that Trooper Lord arrived on the scene, intending to provide backup to his fellow officer. Tragically, before he could even exit his cruiser, Drega turned his weapon on him, fatally shooting him.
Drega's rampage did not end with the deaths of the two troopers. After killing Lord, he executed the wounded Trooper Phillips and stole his patrol car. He then drove into the center of Colebrook, where he continued his assault, murdering newspaper editor Dennis Joos and part-time judge Vickie Bunnell, both of whom he had long-standing grudges against. His flight from the law led him across the border into Vermont, where he wounded four more law enforcement officers who were in pursuit.
The manhunt for Carl Drega culminated in a fierce shootout in the woods of Vermont. Surrounded by numerous officers, Drega was ultimately shot and killed, bringing an end to his deadly spree. Because the suspect was killed at the scene, no arrests were made in connection with the murders of Trooper Leslie Lord, Trooper Scott Phillips, Dennis Joos, and Vickie Bunnell. The community was left to mourn the devastating loss of life and the violent end to a day that began with a simple traffic stop.
