Former NH Police Commissioner Charged In Teen's Shooting

PORTSMOUTH, NH -- A former Portsmouth police commissioner was charged with participating in a downtown shooting over the summer. Brenna Cavanaugh was indicted this month on assault and criminal mischief charges. Portsmouth police said her boyfriend, Mark Gray, fired his gun six times at a teenager Aug. 18 during a misunderstanding. Cavanaugh denied any wrongdoing.

Police said a 16-year-old boy received an invitation via social media to attend a party but received the wrong address and instead entered Gray's house on Summer Street at about 3:30 a.m. -- waking Gray and Cavanaugh.

"The male juvenile fled from the home and entered his vehicle which was parked on Summer Street," Portsmouth police said in a statement. "The residents exited the home and encountered the male, where shots were fired upon the vehicle at the scene and as it fled from the area."

Police said Gray fired six shots and some hit the teen's vehicle.

Cavanaugh disputed the police version of events.

"The vehicle was fired upon as it accelerated towards us (the victims) at a high rate of speed, (after it had already accelerated at a high speed in reverse, crashing into a telephone pole)," Cavanaugh said in a statement. "In a last resort action of self defense, in an effort to disable the vehicle, and neutralize an immediate threat to our lives, the vehicle was fired upon as it approached and passed us."

Cavanaugh served as a Portsmouth police commissioner from 2013 to 2017.

Photo: Brenna Cavanaugh. (Credit: City of Portsmouth)