Steve Arkell, Slain Brentwood Cop, Remembered at Vigil

Steve Arkell, the Brentwood police officer killed in a hail of gunfire as he responded to a domestic dispute Monday, was memorialized by friends and family during a vigil Tuesday night.

Arkell, 48, was a part-time cop. He was married and had two teenage girls. He also coached girls lacrosse at Exeter High School, according to the Associated Press.

On Monday, authorities said Arkell responded to a home on Mill Pond Road in Brentwood shortly after 4 p.m. for a report of a domestic dispute between Walter Nolan, 86, and his son, Michael Nolan, 47. After getting permission to enter the house, Arkell entered and the younger Nolan shot him, according to Attorney General Joseph Foster.

Authorities detained the elder Nolan as Michael Nolan exchanged gunfire with police. A fire broke out in the home at about 5 p.m., and then there was a huge explosion that was caught on camera by television crews. Michael Nolan was found dead.

About 500 people honored Arkell during a vigil at the Brentwood Recreation Center.

"I've always know Steve as a peacemaker, that was what Steve was like," Brentwood Police Lt. David Roy told WHDH/7News. "He loved to be able to talk to people and help them work their problems out."

Gov. Maggie Hassan, local police officers, Exeter High lacrosse players, and family and friends came out for the vigil.

"There aren’t any words that are going to make this loss any easier," Hassan said, according to the Boston Globe.