Who is Nicholas Brutcher? All You Need to Know About Bristol Cop Killer

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The Connecticut State Police reported that Nicholas Brutcher, a resident of Bristol, Connecticut, fatally shot two police officers at his residence in what seemed to be an ambush. According to police, Brutcher, 35, also perished in the event on October 12, 2022. Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould referred to it as “senseless violence” during a press conference.

Sergeant Dustin Demonte, 35, and Officer Alex Hamzy, 34, of the Bristol Police Department were killed. According to a press release from the police, Officer Alec Iurato, 26, who was hurt, has been discharged from the hospital following surgery. Hamzy was declared dead at the spot, while Demonte passed away at the hospital, according to the police.

According to a news release from the state police, on October 12 at about 10:20 p.m., “Bristol Police received a 911 call reporting a suspected domestic violence incident involving two siblings at 310 Redstone Hill Road.” Bristol, a city in central Connecticut close to Hartford, with a population of roughly 60,000. Near the headquarters of ESPN is the shooting scene.

“Preliminary information appears to point to the 911 call being a deliberate act to lure law enforcement to the scene,” the state police said. The suspect’s brother, 32-year-old Nathan Brutcher, was wounded in the shooting. His role in the incident is unknown. The shooting remains under investigation by state police detectives, officials said.

1. Nicholas Brutcher Was Wearing Camouflage & Waiting for Officers

Connecticut State Police said in its press release, “Upon arrival, Bristol Police Officers were immediately encountered by a suspect outside of 310 Redstone Hill Road. Shots were fired and one officer, Officer Alex Hamzy, died at the scene, while two other officers were also shot. Sergeant Dustin Demonte was taken to Bristol Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Officer Alec Iurato was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, where he is undergoing surgery for serious wounds.”

Iurato, according to the police, was discharged from the hospital on October 13 in the late afternoon. Nathan Brutcher stayed at the hospital at St. Francis. There was no immediate word on his health. Whether Nathan Brutcher was shot by his policemen or his brother is unknown, according to the police. As of right now, it was unclear whether Nicholas Brutcher shot himself or was hit by police.

The New York Times wrote, “Norberto Rodriguez, who lives across the street from where the shooting occurred, said that on Wednesday night he saw a man dressed in camouflage emerge from the house with a gun. Another man ran out, apparently to restrain him, and the man with the rifle shot the second man, Mr. Rodriguez said.”

2. Brutcher & His Brother Had Been Involved in a Disturbance

Prior to the incident, Nick Brutcher was expelled from a Bristol, Connecticut, bar, according to NBC Connecticut. He then went back home, where, according to police sources, he got into a fight with his brother. According to NBC Connecticut, he had an AR-15-style rifle in his possession.

In the hours prior to the shooting, Bristol Police, according to police sources, had responded to allegations of a disruptive patron at a bar and summoned that man.

According to The Hartford Courant, Nicholas Brutcher was arguing with his brother outside their home while wearing “army fatigues” and wielding a big weapon with a high-capacity magazine attached to it. Anthony Rodriguez, a neighbor, claimed to have witnessed the incident. According to Rodriguez, he overheard Brutcher informing his brother that he planned to “shoot up” a nearby bar. According to Rodriguez, Nicholas Brutcher shot him after Brutcher’s brother forbade him from doing so.

3. Nick Brutcher, Who Grew Up in Bristol & Graduated From Bristol Central High School, Was Divorced & Had Children

Nick Brutcher was born and raised in Bristol and attended Bristol Central High School, according to his Facebook page. Records show that he graduated in 2015. Brutcher has children and has been married before, according to his Facebook page. According to his page, he was friends on Facebook with Alex Hamzy, one of the killed officers.

On Facebook, Brutcher has shared numerous pictures of himself with his children as well as images of him using a firearm and going hunting and fishing. He is pictured in the middle of a row of men and youngsters clutching rifles in one of the wedding photos. In 2019, Brutcher and his wife got divorced, according to Connecticut court documents. Brutcher claimed to have been in a relationship since January 2022 on Facebook.

When his girls questioned whether dad wanted a boy or a girl toy in a Happy Meal in April 2021, Brutcher joked about “cancelling” McDonald’s in a Facebook video. Following the incident, the video had hundreds of comments criticizing Brutcher.

4. Brutcher Does Not Appear to Have a Criminal Record

According to available records, Nick Brutcher didn’t seem to have any convictions in Connecticut outside of driving infractions. If he had ever been detained in a different state, it was unknown at the time.

Midland Credit Management filed a lawsuit against Brutcher in Connecticut civil court in 2021, according to court records. According to court documents, he was charged with owing more than $6,000 in credit card debt. According to court documents, Brutcher’s earnings were garnished in September 2022. He was employed by a firm that installs geosynthetic liners for construction projects.

5. State Police Said It Would Conduct a ‘Very Complex’ Investigation

Connecticut State Police said in its press release, “This is a very complex ongoing investigation led by detectives from the Connecticut State Police Major Crimes Unit, at the request of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.”