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NYPD Sergeant Fatally Shoots Himself In Bay Ridge Home
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 13, 2015
Modified Apr 13, 2015
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By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 13, 2015
Modified Apr 13, 2015
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A 48-year-old NYPD sergeant shot himself in an apparent suicide in his Bay Ridge home yesterday afternoon. Sergeant James Fitzpatrick, 48, was assigned to the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn, and had been on the force for 24 years, the Daily News reports. Fitzpatrick's wife and children were reportedly home at the time of the shooting, which occurred shortly before 4 p.m. in their bedroom.
“I heard a scream," one neighbor tells the Post. "Not like a normal scream, but like something really happened. The worst thing is that the kids were home."
Police sources tell the tabloids that Fitzpatrick used his service weapon to shoot himself in the head; they also say he was out sick from work for several days before the shooting. He was pronounced dead at Lutheran Medical Center.
"He was big, tall, stocky, like a big teddy bear," another neighbor tells the Post. "When you saw him, you would be intimidated, but then he’d crack a smile and put you at ease."
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone; remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt; and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
Tagged
bay ridge
brooklyn
nypd
suicide
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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