A New York City correction officer shot and killed a Massachusetts police officer responding to a domestic call, then shot his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself Monday, authorities said.
Shawn Bryan, 35, of Hempstead, N.Y., died when he shot himself in the chest outside his former girlfriend's home in Springfield, police said.
According to Springfield Police Commissioner William Fitchet, a city police officer went to the woman's Springfield apartment around 1 p.m. after she called 911 to say her former boyfriend, against whom she had just obtained a restraining order, was nearby and she feared for her life.
The officer, Kevin Ambrose, arrived in a one-man patrol car and found 29-year-old Charlene Mitchell and Bryan outside, Fitchet said. They went to Mitchell's apartment, where, Fitchet said, Bryan pushed Mitchell inside, followed her and slammed the door against Ambrose, who tried to get inside.
Bryan shot Ambrose through the door, opened it and fired at him again, then shot Mitchell, Fitchet said.
Fitchet said Bryan, who worked at the Rikers Island correctional facility, apparently shot himself in the chest in his car outside Mitchell's apartment building.
Fitchet said Ambrose and Bryan were pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center and Mitchell was in critical condition there late Monday after undergoing surgery.
Mitchell had obtained the restraining order, to be served on Bryan, about 45 minutes before the shootings.
In her restraining order application, Mitchell stated that Bryan initially contacted her over the weekend to pick up his TV set and then began harassing her over phone and text message.
He told her he "wanted it to be about the child and nothing else," referring to their 1-year-old daughter. Mitchell said she agreed but when he asked if he could talk to her, she said, "I have nothing to say to you."
That's when he allegedly sent text messages saying, "I'm going to make you wish you were not born," according to the restraining order application.
The court ordered Bryan to stay at least 100 yards from Mitchell and to have no contact with her or their 1-year-old child and to surrender his firearms to police. Police said the order allowed Bryan to pick up some of his belongings from Mitchell.
Ambrose, a 36-year veteran, is the first Springfield officer killed on duty in nearly 27 years. Fitchet said he is survived by his wife, two children and a grandchild.
New York City Department of Correction Commissioner Dora Schriro released a statement Monday night saying the department was "shocked and saddened" by the events.
A correction department spokeswoman says Bryan began working with the department in August 2009 and was assigned to Rikers Island. She says he had been scheduled to return to his post on Tuesday.
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