What to Know
- The husband and wife were at their apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant when at least two masked men burst in
- The couple was tied up and pillows were placed over their heads, sources said
- The woman broke free and called police; her husband was pronounced dead at an area hospital
Police have released photos of a person of interest in the violent Brooklyn home invasion that left a 91-year-old man dead and his 100-year-old wife in the hospital.
It comes the same day as the NYPD is also announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.
The 100-year-old Ethlin Brumley Thompson was able to escape after two masked suspects broke into her home in Bedford-Stuyvesant last week and pulled pillowcases over her and her husband's heads and tied them up. Ethlin got away to call 911, and when officers arrived, the woman met them and said her husband was still in the home.
"The officers entered her apartment and found her 91-year-old husband tied up and lying on the floor," NYPD Deputy Chief Michael Kemper said at a press conference. "He was unresponsive."
Although the officers performed CPR, Waldiman Thompson was pronounced dead after he arrived at Interfaith Medical Center. Medical examiners later told DNAinfo that the man had heart disease and high blood pressure and the stress of the break-in caused him to have a heart attack.
Ethlin Brumley was taken to the same hospital for injuries to her legs and for observation.
Authorities said the burglars ransacked the home -- but it’s not clear if anything was taken.
Neighbors say the couple lived on the street for decades, and they were often seen sitting in their garden, waving to passersby.
"They're very nice, respectable people," said Sharon Lyons. "I hope they find the people responsible for this."
Ethlin and Wadiman sat side by side in front of their brownstone every day, giving compliments to neighbors -- together, always together, in the words of The New York Times.
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"All they had was each other," their 34-year-old tenant Anil Lopez told the Times. He said he called them "Mom" and "Pops" -- and they called each other "honey."
On Tuesday, Bed-Stuy residents told News 4 that they didn't recognize the man.
"I don't know who he is, he doesn't look familiar to me at all," said one resident.
A viewing for Thompson will be held Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. A funeral will be held Friday at 10 a.m.
Anyone with information about the home invasion should call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
