Man accused of shooting cops dealt with mental health issues

Man accused of shooting cops dealt with mental health issues

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — The man accused of shooting two New Hampshire police officers agreed to mental health counseling in 2012 after he was charged in an assault his father said was a "schizophrenic" episode, court records show.

A police affidavit released Monday says he went through a background check before purchasing the gun he allegedly used to shoot the two officers.

Under federal law, someone who has been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility or declared mentally ill by a judge cannot legally buy a gun.

MacPherson last faced criminal charges in 2012, when he went into his father's home and kicked, punched and slammed him on the ground, according to court records.

MacPherson's attorney at the time, Joseph Tessier, requested an evaluation of whether MacPherson was competent to stand trial, but it's unclear from court documents whether that evaluation was completed and what the results were.