An off-duty officer with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) reportedly shot and killed his wife's lover on Sunday before turning the gun on himself outside of a Buffalo Wild Wings, according to authorities.
Sean Armstead, 36, and Edward Wilkins, 20, were found dead with gunshot wounds in the parking lot of the restaurant chain in Wallkill, New York, police said in a statement Monday. Armstead, who served as a police officer in the Bronx, reportedly followed his wife and Wilkins to the restaurant after suspecting the two of having an affair, NBC New York reported.
Prior to the shooting, Armstead tracked down the couple at a local La Quinta Inn & Suites at around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, News 12 reported. During the confrontation at the hotel, Armstead reportedly crashed his vehicle into a car containing his wife and Williams. He then got out of his vehicle and chased Williams on foot, before fatally shooting him several times in the back and head outside the restaurant.
Armstead then turned the gun on himself, killing himself with a single gunshot wound to the head, according to News 12.
Gary DeYoung, who was staying at the La Quinta Inn & Suites, told the news outlet that he was out walking his dog when the deadly interaction took place.
"A Dodge Charger was involved in a crash. It then went up the street, spun a U-turn, came back out, slammed into the car again. Next thing you know, a guy jumps out, comes over here, and starts shooting away....At least a dozen or more shots...pow, pow, pow. And I was like 'whoa.' I called 911. By that time, there was two deceased on the ground here in the parking lot," he told News 12.
Police said Monday that the incident is being investigated by the New York State Attorney General's Office and the Wallkill Police Department. Investigators will also be assisted by New York State Police, Orange County Sheriff's Office, City of Middletown, and the NYPD.
The NYPD did not respond to a request for comment from Newsweek on Monday. Newsweek contacted the Wallkill Police Department for additional information.
Newsweek has previously reported on incidents across the U.S. where off-duty police officers have been involved in fatal shootings. Last week, an off-duty officer in Illinois allegedly shot and killed her husband with a serving pistol during a domestic dispute.
Months earlier, a police officer in Chicago shot and killed her husband after he attempted to stop her from committing suicide during an argument at their home.
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