Bristol police Sgt. Dustin Demonte, left, and Officer Alex Hamzy, center, were killed. Bristol police Officer Alec Iurato, right, is recovering from surgery.
Bristol police Sgt. Dustin Demonte, left, and Officer Alex Hamzy, center, were killed. Bristol police Officer Alec Iurato, right, is recovering from surgery
 
wo highly respected police officers were killed Wednesday night and a third seriously wounded while responding to a domestic disturbance call in Connecticut, their police chief said.

“Sadly, we lost two exceptional Bristol police officers. And a third was seriously injured as a result of senseless violence,” Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould said Thursday. “To our fallen officers’ families, we will never forget the sacrifice your loved ones have made.”

State police said in a news release the 911 call appears to have been “a deliberate act to lure law enforcement to the scene.” 

Around 10:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, Bristol police received a 911 call about a possible domestic incident between two siblings, Connecticut State Police Sgt. Christine Jeltema said at a news conference.  

“When officers arrived, they were immediately met with a suspect outside,” Jeltema said.

“Shots were fired, fatally wounding one officer on scene,” she said.

A female neighbor told CNN affiliate News 12 Connecticut she heard about 10 shots followed by another burst of gunfire.

The other two officers were taken to the hospital, where one of them died and the other was hospitalized with serious injuries, Jeltema said.

Officer Alex Hamzy was killed at the scene and Sgt. Dustin Demonte died at a hospital, officials said later. The other officer was identified as Alec Iurato.

The suspect – who was identified in a state police news release as Nicholas Brutcher, 35 – was shot and killed at the scene, Jeltema said.

“The suspect’s brother was also shot and transported to an area hospital,” she said. “His status at this time is unknown.”

The brother was identified by state police as Nathan Brutcher, 32.