FAIRFIELD -- Police continue to investigate Wednesday at a house where a domestic assault ended up with four people hospitalized and one man dead. State police say 51-year-old Christopher Andrews was shot to death Tuesday by police officers he confronted in his driveway.
At approximately 6 a.m., Tuesday, Andrews' 13-year-old daughter called 911 to report a serious domestic incident on Mountain Laurel Rd. in Fairfield. But she wasn't the only one who prevented more harm; the man's eldest son, 15, was outside with his father when police arrived, and they found he had helped prevent his siblings from being harmed further.
"Apparently, the father went to go strike [the 15-year-old], and he grabbed the bat and took it away from him, at which point, they both came outside and that's when our officers got on scene," said Lt. James Perez, of the Fairfield Police Department.
The officer asked Andrews to stop where he was, but Andrews failed to comply, rushing toward the officer with a knife.
"Our first officer, who got out there, got out of his car and started walking down the driveway when he was approached by two individuals, one of the sons and then the father," said Perez. "At that point, the officer felt his life was in danger and he actually fired his weapon, striking the individual and the individual went down."
When police investigated, they found the man's wife and children, ages 12, 13, and 15 had been injured.
According to Perez, when officers entered the home, they discovered "a mother laying in the bed with severe injuries, to the head and to the face and son, or another small child, who was in the corner badly battered about the face and head."
Five people were taken to the hospital, including Andrews. The woman, who neighbors identified as Kathleen Andrews, was in critical condition Tuesday morning, and remained in the hospital Wednesday. The couple's youngest child, a 12-year-old boy, was airlifted to Yale-New Haven with serious injuries. He also remains hospitalized Wednesday. The 13-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son were taken the hospital for medical treatment but have been released.
Police said the victims all had blunt trauma injuries and stab wounds.
A neighbor of the Andrews family, who says he coached their eldest son in baseball, told FOX 61 he awoke to several distinct popping sounds and, when he opened his curtains, he looked out and saw an officer standing over a man laying in the driveway of the residence.
The officer involved, Sean Fenton, has been with Fairfield Police since 1990. He has received 35 letters of accommodation, one exceptional service award, one life-saving award and one medal of meritorious service award.
"Officer Fenton’s quick action in responding to this incident prevented further serious injury to family members," said Lt. Perez. Fenton has temporarily been reassigned from his patrol activities.
According to State Police, the State Attorney’s Office requested detectives from Western District Major Crime to assist Fairfield Police with the investigation.
"We also join and commit to working to understand and make sense of this tragic situation that we responded to.," said Lt. Perez.
