Cop Killer To Die

New Hampshire has issued its first death sentence in 50 years, to a man who shot a cop two years ago. Michael Addison, now 28, shot Manchester police officer Michael Briggs in the head after the officer ordered him and a friend to stop. Addison was a suspect in two armed robberies and a shooting at the time. Defense and prosecution argued over whether the shooting was reckless and sudden, or planned and intentional. Prosecution also argued that, since Addison was already sentenced to decades in prison for other crimes, not choosing the death penalty would have made it look like Addison received no reprimand for shooting Briggs. New Hampshire has not executed an inmate since 1939 (a 1959 death sentence was later overtuned by the Supreme Court). For "fun," check out this death penalty information by state, and see how fast the numbers rise as you go south.