BRISTOL, Connecticut — A Connecticut police officer, apparently wounded in an ambush, killed his attacker in the shooting that killed two fellow officers, police said.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Bristol police said Alec Iurat was shot and opened fire Wednesday, killing Nicholas Blucher. Brutcher, 35, died of a gunshot wound to his neck from a spinal cord injury, according to the state coroner’s office.
Sergeant Dustin Demonte and Officer Alex Hamsey were shot dead outside their home after responding to a call of possible domestic violence.
Witnesses said they heard about 30 gunshots during the confrontation.
Iura was discharged from the hospital on Thursday. Brutcher’s brother, his Nathan Brutcher, was wounded in the shootout. Nathan Brutcher has not been accused of having any role in the attack.
The bodies of the two police officers were taken to the funeral home in separate processions on Friday as hundreds held an all-night rally by candlelight outside Bristol Police Station. In New York, the New York Yankees held a minute’s silence in honor of their officials before Game 2 of their American League Division Series game against Cleveland at Yankee Stadium.
Police officials said all three officers were well respected and received awards.
Demonte, 35, is a 10-year veteran officer and co-winner of his division’s 2019 Officer of the Year award. His wife is expecting their third child.
Hamsey, 34, worked for his hometown police force for eight years. Like Demonte, he was an advisor to the police cadet program.
Iurato, 26, joined the Ministry of Bristol in 2018 and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Government, Law and National Security.
According to his social media pages, Nicholas Brutcher was a divorced father of two and a lover of guns, hunting and fishing.
In a photo posted on both brothers’ Facebook pages in 2016, Nicholas Brutcher points a handgun at the camera while others, including Nathan Brutcher, hold rifles.
Another photo shows a 10 point deer and fish caught by Nicholas Brutcher.
