Officer ID’d in fatal domestic incident, as investigators piece together tragic puzzle

Kathleen and Christopher Andrews from their Facebook page. Kathleen and Christopher Andrews from their Facebook page. Photo: Contributed Photo Photo: Contributed Photo Image 1 of / 80 Caption Close Officer ID’d in fatal domestic incident, as investigators piece together tragic puzzle 1 / 80 Back to Gallery

FAIRFIELD — The police officer who fatally shot a Mountain Laurel man in the midst of a violent domestic incident early Tuesday has been identified as a 26-year veteran who has been cited for service by the chief.

Patrol Officer Sean Fenton, 48, who has been a member of the Fairfield force since 1990, was identified Wednesday as the officer who was dispatched to the home at 22 Mountain Laurel Road early Tuesday and, when confronted by Christopher Andrews, 51, shot and killed the man who police said had a knife and refused Fenton’s command to stand down.

Fenton has been placed on administrative leave, pending outcome of the investigation by State Police detectives into the incident, which left Andrews’ wife, Kathleen, and their three children with stab and blunt-force trauma wounds. All four had to be hospitalized, but the two oldest children — 15 and 13 years old — were released from St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport on Wednesday.

Kathleen Andrews, 50, was reported in stable condition Wednesday in Bridgeport Hospital, and the youngest child, 12 years old, was in critical condition at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

In a statement issued by Police Chief Gary MacNamara, Fenton’s “quick actions” were credited with preventing “further serious injuries to family members.”

In accordance with department protocol, Fenton has been offered psychological support and counseling. Other emergency personnel on the scene also have been offered similar support, officials said.

Fenton was the recipient of a “Police Chief's Letter of Recognition” at a recent departmental awards ceremony.

Disbelief among neighbors

“They were really good friends with a whole group of other neighbors; they spent a lot of time together. It was just a really nice family, really nice guy and it’s all very confusing,” said Shari Nerreau, as she fought back tears before entering a rosary service for the Andrews family at St. Pius X Catholic Church on Tuesday evening.

“We tried to process it and make sense of it ... I’m sure that information will come out, and I think right now we’re just praying for the family, whose members are still, you know, they’re still not in great shape,” she said.

“My husband woke up to the gunshots,” said Nerreau, who lives near the Andrews home.

Nicholas Crescione, who plays basketball alongside the eldest Andrews child at Fairfield Warde High School, said he also learned of the shooting from watching the news on television. “It’s crazy,” he said.

The group texts started at 7:30 in the morning with the ‘Are you OK,’ and they just didn’t stop,” said Susan Mudd, who also said a rosary for the Andrews family Tuesday night.

Later in the morning, Mudd said, her daughter sent her a link to a news article.

“I was like, oh my God, this doesn’t happen in Fairfield, then we realized that we know the family,” Mudd said. “I’m still shocked. It’s a nice family.”

A search for answers

Christopher Andrews’ oldest son apparently had wrested a bat from his father that was used to bludgeon others, according to preliminary information from a police source.

During the early stages of the investigation, police said it was not clear who had inflicted the bulk of the injuries during the disturbance, and could not definitively say whether the father was completely responsible.

The state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has been notified and will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of the man’s death.

State Police detectives from the Western District Major Crime Squad are leading the probe of the incident for the State’s Attorney’s Office in Stamford.

Police said there were no records of any problems reported at the Andrews’ home previously.

The veteran officer involved in the shooting — who was not identified — also was sent to the hospital for observation. Fairfield police officials will conduct their own internal probe of the officer’s role in the shooting.

Superintendent of Schools David Title said that mental-health resources were available Tuesday to students and staff for counseling support at the schools attended by children in the family.

Tenants’ tragedy surprises owners

The home where the incident took place is owned by Harun and Jacinta Keskinkaya, according to the town’s online land-records database. Police would not confirm, however, if the owners are the current residents, but a member of the Keskinkaya family said the house was rented to tenants.

Harun Keskinkaya is the CEO of DJH Leather Corp. of New York City, and owner Delfino Imports. A woman identifying herself as the Keskinkayas’ daughter answered the phone at Delfino in New York, and said her family does not live in the Mountain Laurel home, and for many years rented the house to the family involved in Tuesday's incident.

She said she does not know the renters’ names, but had met them in passing and was shocked to hear about the assault. "From my parents, I only heard good things about the family," she said. "They were always so kind to us."

Harun Keskinkaya is traveling to trade shows in Italy and is not expected back until later in the week.

Reacting to the news that shocked the neighborhood, nearby St. Pius Catholic Church was open Tuesday evening for counseling and support. “Today we are shocked and saddened by the tragic situation in our neighborhood on Mountain Laurel Road,” the parish posted on its Facebook page. “In your charity, please keep the family, and all those involved, in your prayers. The Faith Center Chapel is open, and will remain open, for anyone who would like to spend time in prayer”

Staff writers Alex Gecan and Amanda Cuda contributed to this report.