2 ‘exceptional’ police officers were shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call in Connecticut

By Michelle Watson and Holly Yan, CNN

Two highly respected police officers were killed Wednesday night and a third seriously wounded when a suspect fired over 80 rounds at them while they were responding to a call in Connecticut, authorities said.

“Sadly, we lost two exceptional Bristol police officers. And a third was seriously injured as a result of senseless violence,” Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould said Thursday. “To our fallen officers’ families, we will never forget the sacrifice your loved ones have made.”

Around 10:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, Bristol police received a 911 call about a possible domestic incident between two siblings, Connecticut State Police Sgt. Christine Jeltema said.

Authorities now believe the caller was the suspected gunman, 35-year-old Nicholas Brutcher, the Connecticut inspector general’s office said Saturday.

The 911 call appears to have been “a deliberate act to lure law enforcement to the scene,” state police said.

Bristol police Officer Alex Hamzy and Sgt. Dustin Demonte were killed. Officer Alec Iurato was wounded but able to shoot and kill Brutcher, the inspector general’s office said.

The suspect’s brother, 32-year-old Nathan Brutcher, was also shot and taken to a hospital, Connecticut State Police said.

More than 80 shots were fired, report says

Demonte, Hamzy and Iurato went to the side door of the home and spoke with Nathan Brutcher, telling him to show his hands and step out of the house, the inspector general’s report said.

“As Nathan Brutcher stepped out, gunfire erupted. Nicholas Brutcher fired well over eighty rounds attacking the officers from behind, fatally shooting both Sergeant DeMonte and Officer Hamzy, and wounding Officer Iurato,” the report said.

After being shot in the leg, Iurato managed to make his way around the house and back to a police car, the inspector general’s office said.

Iurato fired one shot, striking and killing Nicholas Brutcher. It is “evident from the evidence collected thus far in the investigation that Iurato’s use of deadly force was justified,” the report said.

The slain officers worked to help youth in the community

Bristol’s police chief became visibly emotional describing the two officers killed.

“Words cannot express the sadness and grief,” Gould said.

Demonte, 35, was also a school resource officer at two Bristol schools and an adviser for the Bristol police explorer cadet program, the chief said.

“Throughout his career, he has received several awards, including the silver star, officer of the month, and co-recipient for officer of the year in 2019,” Gould said.

Demonte is survived by his wife, two children “and one on the way,” the chief said.

Hamzy, 34, was also an adviser for the police explorer cadet program.

“Throughout his career, he received numerous letters of commendations and recognition,” Gould said.

Hamzy is survived by his wife, parents and two sisters.

Iurato, 26, underwent surgery for a “severe gunshot wound and is currently recovering,” the police chief said.

Gov. Ned Lamont ordered US and state flags in Connecticut to be lowered to half-staff.

“The loss of two officers from the Bristol Police Department who were killed in the line of duty while responding to an emergency call of domestic violence is a senseless tragedy, and my prayers are with their families, loved ones, and fellow officers,” the governor said.

On Thursday morning, the two slain officers’ bodies were taken from Bristol Hospital to the medical examiner’s office in Farmington, state police said.

“A procession is occurring now where the 2 Bristol officers who tragically lost their lives will be escorted from Bristol Hospital” to the medical examiner’s office, state police tweeted.

‘They responded without hesitation’

Hours before Wednesday’s shooting in Connecticut, three Philadelphia SWAT officers were wounded in a shooting while trying to serve a warrant to a homicide suspect, police said.

After knocking on a door, the SWAT team was “immediately met by gunfire,” said Philadelphia First Deputy Police Commissioner John Stanford.

A shootout ensued, and the suspect was killed. The three wounded officers are expected to recover, Commissioner Danielle M. Outlaw said.

Gould said the fallen Bristol officers epitomized bravery in policing, just like so many officers do every day.

“They answered a call to duty, and they responded without hesitation,” he said. “And that’s what they did every night before that. And that’s what all our officers do and will continue to do.”

Nationwide, the number of police officers intentionally killed in the line of duty reached a 20-year high last year, according to FBI data.

A total of 54 law enforcement officers have been killed by intentional gunfire in 2022, according to the Officer Down Memorial Fund website.

One other officer joined their honor roll Thursday. Las Vegas Police Officer Truong Thai, 49, died from wounds he suffered while responding to a domestic disturbance call at the University of Las Vegas, according to his department.

Thai, who had been with the agency since 1999, was an honorable and commendable officer who had “done a fantastic job as part of the law enforcement community,” Sheriff Joe Lombardo said.

The suspect in Thai’s killing has been arrested, officials said.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of the officer who was wounded. It is Alec Iurato.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

CNN’s Kiely Westhoff, Steve Almasy, Chris Boyette, Andi Babineau and Cara Lynn Clarkson contributed to this report.