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November 17, 2008

Inquiry continues in Keene shooting

<a href="mailto:kdedam@pressrepublican.com">By KIM SMITH DEDAM</a>

ELIZABETHTOWN — Investigation into the hunting death of a young father in Keene is continuing.

On Monday, New York State Police Troop B Bureau of Criminal Investigation Capt. Robert LaFountain said autopsy results concluded Leo J. Hickey, 35, died of a gunshot wound to the head.

A member of Hickey’s hunting party, Michael M. Smith, 43, of Lake Placid, fired the fatal shot, according to police reports.

Smith was arrested after the incident occurred on an outstanding arrest warrant from New Hampshire.

Capt. Joe DiGregorio from the Strafford County Sheriff’s Department in Dover, N.H., said the warrant was issued after Smith failed to make a court appearance there last month.

“Mr. Smith failed to appear in Strafford County Superior Court on Oct. 6 for drug-related charges; Superior Court issued the warrant,” DiGregorio relayed in a phone interview Monday.

“I’m not sure where he was living. He did have an address from Barrington, N.H., on that document.”

DiGregorio did not know if Smith would be extradited to face charges in New Hampshire.

“I would imagine that the state of New York would like their crack at him first. Once he’s done with the state of New York, then he would come to New Hampshire. That’s traditionally how it’s done.”

According to an officer at the Public Safety Complex, Smith remains in Essex County Jail, pending further investigation.

He was hunting with a group of at least five men, including stepbrother Mark Smith and Hickey.

The party, equipped with walkie-talkies, was driving deer in a recently logged, lightly wooded area off the Lacy Road near the junction of Bartlett Road.

Hickey, who grew up in Keene, died about 9:45 a.m. Saturday despite rescue attempts.

Essex County Coroner Paul Connery marked manner of death as “pending” on the death certificate.

LaFountain said BCI is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident, and once it has concluded, a determination will be made on how to proceed.

He did not say whether alcohol was involved.

“We will evaluate everything in consultation with the district attorney,” LaFountain said, “We are still in the fact-gathering process right now. Hopefully by the end of the week we’ll have significantly more information to release.”

Essex County District Attorney Julie Garcia said Smith was to be arraigned Monday in Essex County Court on the warrant from New Hampshire.

“The investigation is ongoing,” Garcia said.

Hickey, the son of Thomas Hickey and Keene Town Justice Constance Wells Hickey, had worked as an automobile technician for Adirondack Auto in Elizabethtown since before he went to college.

George Huttig, owner of the car dealership and automotive shop, said Monday was a “very tough” day at work.

“We were just standing there talking to him on Friday, and you come to work the next day,” he said quietly. “It’s very sad.

“Leo went to Canton (University of New York Agricultural and Technical College) and worked for us in the summers. When he got out of college, he came to work for us full-time.

“He was just a real nice, quiet, smart guy. He was computer savvy; he could diagnose and repair these new cars better than anyone. He was a master technician, took all the tests, and still, he was one of those rare guys who had time for everyone. He was very patient and always helpful.

“He never left work before asking if anyone needed help — he’d say, ‘do you need me to do anything before I go home?’”

Hickey and his wife, Wendy (Johndrow), had just built a new home in Elizabethtown.

Their youngest daughter just turned 1 year old.

“He was a young guy that came home from college and stayed; he was always just so happy,” Huttig said.

A memorial Mass for Hickey will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Church in Lake Placid.



E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at:

kdedam@pressrepublican.com

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