Sgt. calls fallen Springfield officer a hero

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WHDH) -- The city of Springfield remembered a hero on Tuesday, the day after a 36-year veteran officer was killed in the line of duty.

Police headquarters was draped in black and purple bunting in honor of Kevin Ambrose, who officials say did something heroic on Monday. Ambrose was fatally shot in a domestic violence call by 35-year-old Shawn Bryan, a correction officer from New York, who killed himself after critically wounding a woman.

“Couldn’t wait to get home last night, to kiss my son and my wife when I walked through the door,” said Sgt. John Delaney of the Springfield Police Department. “That’s something Kevin wasn’t able to do.”

Delaney said he was at the hospital when his longtime friend was pronounced dead.

“He could have been retired from here, but he chose not to because he loved his job,” said Delaney.

Investigators said Bryan shot Ambrose at least twice before shooting the woman, Charlene Mitchell, and then turning the gun on himself.

Officials said 45 minutes before the shooting Mitchell had obtained a restraining order to be served on Bryan. Court records say Bryan sent a text to Mitchell saying, “I’m gonna make you wish you were not born.”

Bryan and Mitchell have a 1-year-old girl together. Witnesses said officers carried the girl out of the apartment after the shooting. She had blood on her face. The girl was not hurt.

Mitchell was listed in stable condition on Tuesday afternoon.

Delaney said Mitchell is alive because Ambrose threw off the shooter.

“Setting that shooter off his game made him not think correctly, Kevin did a great thing,” said Delaney.

A memorial at police headquarters lists all the officers killed in the line of duty. Ambrose is the first Springfield officer killed on duty in nearly 27 years. He is survived by his wife, two children and a grandchild.