Manchester Teacher Arrested For Firing Gun in School Parking Lot

MANCHESTER, N.H. - A Manchester preschool teacher is facing a reckless conduct charge after he fired a gun in the parking lot of a school during the early morning hours of June 1.

According to Manchester Police, officers were checking on a loud music complaint in the parking lot of McDonough School when they discovered someone had actually fired a handgun prior to their arrival.

Police said a Concord Street resident told them they heard loud music and then a possible gun shot around 3:40 a.m.

On arrival, officers checked a the gray Volkswagen, which was parked in the school parking lot.

When officers approached the car they noticed three occupants including the driver who was sitting with an open door and his feet on the pavement. The approaching officer observed a handgun in the side compartment of the door, so he removed Noah Scanlon, 18 of Manchester, NH from the driver’s seat while another officer a Ruger 9mm handgun from the car.

A third officer observed another handgun on the passenger seat as soon as he removed the front seat passenger, Robert Gagne, 43 of Manchester, NH and Dominique Paradis, 18 of East Wakefield, NH who was seated in the rear of the vehicle.

Police said Gagne was sitting on top of the Ruger .380 when the officer asked him to step out of the vehicle.

According to police, the subjects were listening to music in the school parking lot when Gagne discharged his firearm in the adjacent field.

Gagne was charged with reckless conduct and taken into custody without incident. His two handguns were placed into evidence and he was released on $2,000 personal recognizance bail. Gagne is scheduled to appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on June 14.

Gagne is listed as a preschool teacher on the Bakersville Elementary School staff directory.

According to the Union Leader, Gagne was placed on leave from his job after the incident.

Courtesy Photo / Manchester PD