Woman shoots, kills ex-boyfriend in self-defense: cops

MAHOPAC – An Ann Road woman wrested a gun away from a former boyfriend and shot him to death after he broke into her home early Saturday, police said.

The 50-year-old woman, who police would not identify, was also shot during the confrontation. She was taken by ambulance to Danbury (Conn.) Hospital where she was treated for a leg wound and released later in the morning.

She will not be charged, police said.

"She was defending herself after someone broke into her house," said Carmel police Chief Michael Cazzari. "She was the victim."

The man, a 47-year-old Mahopac resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police aren't identifying him until they notify his family.

Police were called to the home shortly before 2 a.m. by the woman, who told them that her former boyfriend was trying to break in. At the same time, a tenant in a basement apartment called police to say that he saw a man with a gun in the house.

When officers Christopher Fox and James Terrazas arrived less than five minutes later, they found the woman bleeding from a gunshot wound to her leg and the man dead.

It's not clear if the man shot the woman or if she accidentally shot herself during the struggle, Cazzari said.

A medical cleanup truck was parked outside the home, in an established residential neighborhood near the West Branch Reservoir, Saturday afternoon.

Neighbors said that they knew the boyfriend because he frequently drove a loud motorcycle down the normally quiet street.

Catherine Cioffi, who lives next door, called the woman "The greatest neighbor you could ever have."

She works long hours in New York City but always found time to help Cioffi clear snow from her driveway or to shop, she said.

"She's the most wonderful person," Cioffi said.

She broke up with her boyfriend at least six months ago, her neighbor said. She hadn't seen him around since then, until Friday afternoon, when she spotted him riding his motorcycle on the short block. Her neighbor was not home at the time, Cioffi said.

The woman works as a director at a cardiology research center at a New York City hospital, records show.

Her 23-year-old son died in February.

Twitter: @JaneLernerNY