Connecticut police release bodycam video from apparent ambush shooting

Oct 17, 2022

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter)

After indicating that it may have been an ambush on officers, police in Connecticut released body camera video from last week’s shooting in Bristol. The video, released Sunday, is part of a preliminary report by the state’s Office of the Inspector General in connection with the shooting. It shows Officer Alec Iurato hobbling a police cruiser and firing a single bullet at the suspect, killing him.

The inspector general’s office said Iurato, Sgt. Dustin DeMonte and Officer Alex Hamzy went to the house shortly before 11 p.m. in response to a 911 call made by the suspect. When the officers arrived at the house, they spoke to the suspect’s brother, and told him to step out of the house. As he did, authorities say the suspect opened fire on the officers from behind, shooting more than 80 rounds.

DeMonte and Hamzy died of multiple gunshots to their heads and torsos, and Iurato was wounded in the leg. In Iurato’s body camera footage, he can be heard breathing heavily and exclaiming in pain as he makes his way around the house.

“Shots fired, shots fired, more cars, send everyone,” Iurato could be heard saying.

“The Bristol community has always stood in solidarity to support our Bristol Police Department,” Bristol Mayor Jeff Caggiano said last week. “And during this time of indescribable, overwhelming pain and loss in this all heart city, we will continue to be there for each other in the mourning today and in the difficult days ahead.”

Iurato was released from the hospital on Thursday. The brother of the suspect was also wounded and taken to the hospital.

While they have released some body camera footage from the shooting, Connecticut police have not disclosed the circumstances that led to the 911 call or the suspect opening fire. They have said it looked like the officers were lured to the scene with the emergency call. The two slain officers’ body camera footage has not been released, and the segment from Iurato’s camera does not show the ambush.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tags: Connecticut

A TRAGEDY RANG OUT IN THE STREETS OF CONNECTICUT.
LAST WEEK TWO POLICEMEN WERE SHOT AND KILLED…ANOTHER INJURED…AS THEY RESPONDED TO A 9-1-1 CALL.
IT ENDED UP BEING AN AMBUSH.
THE SHOOTER DRAWING POLICE OUT BY CALLING IN.
“Officer shot, officer shot, radio static, ‘aah’ in pain.”
WE’RE LEARNING NEW DETAILS AS BODY CAM FOOTAGE PAINTS A GRIM SCENE.
MORE THAN 80 SHOTS WERE FIRED AT POLICE.
TWO OFFICERS AT THE DOOR HAD NO CHANCE.
ANOTHER OFFICER HIT IN THE LEG — IS ABLE TO LIMP HIS WAY BEHIND A POLICE-CAR IN AGONY AMID GUN FIRE.
FOOTAGE FROM HIS BODY CAMERA CAPTURES THE OFFICER LINING UP HIS WEAPON AND FIRING ONCE.
THE BULLET WAS ENOUGH TO TAKE DOWN THE SUSPECT WHO DIED ON SCENE.
Sgt. Dustin DeMonte and Officer Alex Hamzy LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
OFFICER ALEC IURATO IS CREDITED FOR STOPPING THE RAMPAGE.
“During this time of indescribable, overwhelming pain and loss in this all heart city, we will continue to be there for each other in the mourning today and in the difficult days ahead.”
IN THE SAME WEEK AS THE KILLING OF THESE TWO POLICEMEN…
13 MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE SHOT IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
VIOLENCE AGAINST POLICE IS UP YEAR OVER YEAR…MIRRORING THE BROADER RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME SINCE 2020.