Bristol, Connecticut police killings
On October 12, 2022, two police officers of the Bristol Police Department were shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute in Bristol, Connecticut. Nicholas Brutcher made a fake 911 call requesting the police and ambushed the three responding officers, Sergeant Dustin DeMonte, Officer Alex Hamzy, and Officer Alec Iurato, with an semi-automatic rifle. Brutcher killed Hamzy and fatally wounded DeMonte before he was then shot and killed by a wounded Iurato. DeMonte and Hamzy were posthumously promoted.
Background
[edit]On the evening of October 12, 2022, 35-year-old Nicholas Brutcher and his younger brother Nathan went to a bar in Bristol, Connecticut, where the former intended to perform stand-up comedy at an open mic night. At around 8:30 pm, Nicholas got into a fight with another man, which spilled out into the bar's parking lot and resulted in the police being called. Officer Harrison Pollock of the Bristol Police Department arrived at the bar at 8:52pm, where witnesses pointed out the Brutcher brothers were driving away in a white truck, and pulled them over nearby. Nathan, who was driving the truck, was found to have a suspended driver's license and Pollock had the truck towed. Both men appeared drunk, were highly agitated, and were making rude remarks to officers who had arrived on scene, to the point they were both were ticketed for creating a public disturbance. Due to their truck being towed, their mother was called to pick them up, but Nicholas refused and insisted on walking home. The officers told him he could not walk home for safety reasons and, due to his continued resistance, their mother decided to take Nathan home and return to collect him. Nicholas eventually went home with his mother and the incident appeared to have ended.
Ambush
[edit]At 10:42 pm, Nicholas placed a 911 call, claiming that his brother was agitated, pushing him, and that he would like assistance from the police. Three officers: Sergeant Dustin DeMonte, Officer Alex Hamzy, and Officer Alec Iurato arrived to the residence on Redstone Hill Road.[1] All three officers went to the side door of the house to speak to Nathan, who was ordered to step outside of the house with his hands up. Nicholas, wearing all camouflage and armed with an unlicensed AR-15, opened fire from the yard of the neighbouring house behind the officers.[1] DeMonte and Hamzy collapsed on the driveway while Iurato, shot in his leg, was able to retreat around the house. Brutcher allegedly tried to shoot the downed officers with the AR-15, but it jammed because he had inserted the magazine incorrectly and instead shot them with a handgun. Iurato propped himself up on a police cruiser and returned fire, striking and killing Nicholas with one shot from his service pistol.[1] Hamzy was killed, and DeMonte was fatally wounded and transported to hospital where he later died. Approximately 80 shots were fired during the incident.
Aftermath
[edit]Tributes to the officers
[edit]In 11 days, over $1 million were raised in support of the fallen officers and their families.[2] As of the end of October, over 100 people came to pay respects to the memorial outside of the Bristol Police Department headquarters daily.[3] DeMonte and Hamzy became the 149th and 150th names memorialized at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden.[4]
During a Miami Dolphins game, the team honored DeMonte, who had been a lifelong Dolphins fan.[5] Along with the Dolphins, the New England Patriots also paid tribute to DeMonte and Hamzy on Twitter.[6]
Funeral services
[edit]On October 21, 2022, in East Hartford, close to 10,000 law enforcement officers and supporters from all across the United States and even as far as Canada came to attend the funeral service for the fallen officers.[7] During the funeral service, Sergeant DeMonte and Officer Hamzy were posthumously promoted to lieutenant and sergeant, respectively. DeMonte served ten years of service and Hamzy served eight years of service for the Bristol Police Department.[8] Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont attended the funeral. "Lt. DeMonte and Sgt. Hamzy are heroes and served with integrity and courage. We will forever keep them and their families in our hearts," Lamont said during his speech.[8] The funeral service ended with a helicopter flyover and bagpipers playing "Amazing Grace".[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Delvin, Robert (October 15, 2022). "State of Connecticut Office of Inspector General Press Release" (PDF). State of Connecticut. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ Myers, Leah; Terzi, Tony (October 26, 2022). "'He can't wait to come back': Injured Bristol officer likely back to work soon". Fox 61. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ Massaro, Mike (October 27, 2022). "Bristol Police Memorial Continues Providing Place of Reflection". NBC Connecticut. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ Terzi, Tony (October 20, 2022). "The names of 2 fallen Bristol officers permanently memorialized in Meriden: EXCLUSIVE". Fox 61. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ "Miami Dolphins honor a fallen Bristol police officer". WTNH.com. October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ Austin, Matt (October 24, 2022). "New England Patriots Honor Fallen Bristol Police Officers". NBC Connecticut. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ Aiello, Tony (October 21, 2022). "Thousands attend funeral for Bristol Police Sgt. Alex Hamzy and Lt. Dustin DeMonte, officers shot and killed in ambush". CBS News. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- ^ a b c Yankowski, Peter; Brone, Abigail (October 21, 2022). "Flyover marks end of Bristol police funeral". CT Insider. Retrieved October 31, 2022.