Two Connecticut officers were killed and another was seriously wounded in a shooting Wednesday night after a 911 call that may have been a "deliberate act to lure" officers to the scene, police said.
A suspect was also fatally shot.
Connecticut State Police Sgt. Christine Jeltema said at a news conference Wednesday morning that the officers responded to a 911 call around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in Bristol, about 20 miles southwest of Hartford, for a domestic incident between two siblings.
They were met by a person outside, and shots were fired, Jeltema said.
One officer was fatally wounded at the scene, and two others were hospitalized. A second officer was pronounced dead at the hospital, and the third was in serious condition.
State police said in a statement: "Preliminary information appears to point to the 911 call being a deliberate act to lure law enforcement to the scene."
Jeltema said that the person who opened fire was fatally shot and pronounced dead at the scene and that his brother was also shot and taken to a hospital, where his condition was unknown.
State police identified the suspect who died as Nicholas Brutcher, 35. Nathan Brutcher, 32, survived, police said.
“This is an isolated incident, and we want the community to know there is no threat to the community,” Jeltema said.
Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould identified the slain officers as Dustin DeMonte, 35, and Alex Hamzy, 34, and the injured officer as Alec Iurato, 26.
“Words cannot express the sadness and grief that brings me before you his morning,” Gould said at the news conference, denouncing the deaths as “the result of senseless violence.”
DeMonte, who was hired in 2012 and assigned to the patrol division, worked as a school resource officer.
“He is survived by his wife, Laura, and his children, Phoebe and Porter. And one on the way,” Gould said.
Hamzy was hired in 2014 and assigned to the patrol division.
Gould said Hamzy, who was raised in Bristol and is survived by his wife, his parents and two sisters, received numerous letters of commendation.
Iurato was hired in 2018 and also assigned to the patrol division. He underwent surgery for “a severe gunshot wound and is currently recovering,” Gould said.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont directed flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the fallen officers.
“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,” Lamont said in a statement.
He asked Connecticut residents to keep the injured officer in their prayers.
"This is a devastating reminder of the dangers that police officers face every day to protect our families and neighbors from all kinds of situations,” Lamont said.
Jeltema said state troopers and detectives are still gathering evidence in the “very complex” investigation.
State police initially tweeted about the incident early Thursday.
“We ask your thoughts and prayers be with the families, the officer and all those impacted,” they said in a separate post.
