(Office of the Connecticut Inspector General)
The Office of Inspector General together with the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad and Eastern District Major Crime Squad, the Bristol Police Department, the New Britain Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office are investigating the officer-involved shooting of Nicholas Brutcher on October 12, 2022, at 310 Redstone Hill Road, Bristol, CT.
While the investigation is in its preliminary stages, the evidence developed so far indicates the following:
On October 12, 2022, at approximately 10:42 p.m., three Bristol police officers, Sergeant Dustin DeMonte, Officer Alex Hamzy, and Officer Alec Iurato responded to 310 Redstone Hill Road based on a 911 call believed to have been made by Nicholas Brutcher. Officers went to the side door of the house and spoke to Nathan Brutcher. They ordered Nathan Brutcher to show his hands and step out of the house. As Nathan Brutcher stepped out, gunfire erupted. Nicholas Brutcher fired well over eighty rounds attacking the officers from behind, fatally shooting both Sergeant DeMonte and Officer Hamzy, and wounding Officer Iurato.
Despite sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg, Officer Iurato was able to make his way around the house and back to a Bristol Police Department cruiser. From that vantage point, he fired one shot striking and killing Nicholas Brutcher.
Although some details of the investigation remain to be determined, it is evident from the evidence collected so far that Officer Iurato’s use of deadly force was justified.
Sergeant DeMonte and Officer Hamzy wore body-worn cameras during the incident. Upon review of the recordings from those cameras, the Office of Inspector General has determined that disclosure of these recordings at this time would constitute an unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of Sergeant DeMonte and Officer Hamzy, who are both victims of homicide. Likewise, the initial and later portions of Officer Iurato’s body-worn camera recording should remain confidential for the same reason.
