A man fatally shot his 81-year-old wife before fatally shooting her at Apple Rehab on Berlin Street in Cromwell around 11 a.m. Friday, nursing home officials said.
According to Apple Rehabilitation officials, the woman is a long-term resident. I lived there for several years.
Apple Rehabilitation officials said the woman's husband apparently entered the woman's room, shot her, and then shot himself.
Police identified the victims as 81-year-old Barbara Brandt and her husband Dennis Brandt, 82. Police said both men died from gunshot wounds.
Apple Rehab's Cromwell location offers nursing and therapy services.
Brandt had a single room, not a double room.
Vehicles in the parking lot were taped off and police cars blocked off the entrance to the facility, but the facility has resumed normal operations.
Kindercare, located next to Apple Rehab, was on lockdown, according to staff there.
Apple Rehab released the following statement:
Michael Landi, vice president of operations at Apple Rehab, issued the following statement:
It is with great sadness that we inform you that the husband of one of our residents at Apple Rehabilitation Cromwell took his wife's life this morning, and he also took his own life.
The resident is 81 years old, has lived with us for three years, and was in his room when the tragedy occurred. She had no roommates and there were no witnesses. Staff immediately called 911 and responded. No other residents or staff were injured or involved.
There have been no known threats and the motive is unknown at this time.
Our focus remains on our staff and residents, providing them with all the resources and counseling services they need to overcome this tragic event. Many of them are already in the field.
We will provide further details as they become available, but we are currently working closely with Cromwell Constabulary and other state agencies.
No additional information was immediately available.
Suicide Prevention Assistance: If you are in crisis in Connecticut, call 211 and press 1, call/text 988, or chat at www.988lifeline.org. In case of an emergency, please call or text 911.
Introducing information on suicide prevention from the National Institute of Mental Health. If you are in crisis, contact the Crisis Text Line by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or by texting “Home” to 741741.
