Residents
in Bristol and from throughout Connecticut came together Friday night to
remember Sgt. Dustin Demonte and Officer Alex Hamzy, the two officers killed in an apparent ambush Wednesday night.
Bristol
residents say they are devastated over this tragedy that's rocked their
community. Some say they're in disbelief these officers were apparently
targeted by the two men involved in the incident.
The tragedy
is opening the conversation up about the role officers play in the community
and why residents believe it's so important to support them.
"He's
so young, he has a wife, he has parents, he has siblings, I mean a life. To go
do your job, he's just doing his job. He just gets gunned down doing his
job," said one woman.
Another
resident said Demonte got his brother's bike back after it was stolen from him:
"I just want to thank him for that."
Hundreds of people lined the street outside Bristol
Police Department to pay their respects as the body of Officer Hamzy passed
through as it was being transported from the medical examiner's office to a
funeral home.
A five-minute pause and moment of silence for him
turned into a moment of appreciation.
"They save lives, they protect people, they make Bristol
safe," said a Bristol resident.
Funeral arrangements for both
officers have not been announced yet, but it's expected that departments from
across the state will be attending.
Meanwhile,
Tunnel to Towers announced it will pay off the mortgage on Demonte's home. He
leaves behind his pregnant wife, Laura, and their two young children.