N. Bruce McKay III
Corporal

N. Bruce McKay III

Franconia Police Department — Franconia, NH
Felonious
End of Watch May 11, 2007
Age 48
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 155 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Corporal Bruce McKay was shot and killed during a motor vehicle stop.

Corporal McKay pulled over a suspect for speeding on Route 116. The suspect then fled in his vehicle, leading the officer on a brief pursuit. The officer pulled his cruiser in front of the suspect's vehicle, forcing him off the road. Corporal McKay then used pepper spray on the suspect while attempting to take him into custody. After being pepper sprayed, the suspect produced a handgun and shot the officer four times, killing him. The suspect then ran over the officer.

A civilian witnessed the incident and pulled his vehicle between the suspect's vehicle and Corporal McKay, in an effort to shield him. The civilian, a former United States Marine, then exited his vehicle and rushed to the officer's aid. He grabbed Corporal McKay's gun, while his son called for help on Corporal McKay's radio. The civilian then ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. When the suspect refused, the civilian shot and killed the suspect.

The suspect had previously been convicted of assaulting Corporal McKay during a vehicle stop in 2003.

Corporal McKay had served with the Franconia Police Department for 12 years.

A civilian witnessed the incident and pulled his vehicle between the suspect's vehicle and Corporal McKay, in an effort to shield him. The civilian, a former United States Marine, then exited his vehicle and rushed to the officer's aid. He grabbed Corporal McKay's gun, while his son called for help on Corporal McKay's radio. The civilian then ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. When the suspect refused, the civilian shot and killed the suspect.

Corporal McKay had served with the Franconia Police Department for 12 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his daughter, fiancee, parents, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NH-8C8E2BC4
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corporal McKay gave the Franconia Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Franconia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal McKay.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Franconia, Grafton County, NH
Platform Identity fpd.grafton.nh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 11, 2007
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

Corporal N. Bruce McKay III is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NH, 23 of 59 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39% of this state's fallen. That is 39 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Franconia Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
NH — Statewide
23
of 59 officers
39% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. N. Bruce McKay III's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How N. Bruce McKay III Compares

Age at Death
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. N. Bruce McKay III is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. N. Bruce McKay III was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Franconia Police Department are honored on badge.nw.