Crime & Safety

Fairfield Police Officer Justified in Fatal Shooting of Christopher Andrews: State's Attorney

The officer shot and killed Andrews after the father allegedly attacked his wife and children in February.

FAIRFIELD, CT – Fairfield police officer Sean Fenton was justified when he fatally shot Christopher Andrews, who allegedly attacked his wife and children in February, according to the State's Attorney's Office.

Stamford-Norwalk State's Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr. concluded that the "use of deadly force was necessary" on the part of Fenton.

"It is the conclusion of this State’s Attorney that Officer Fenton believed the use of deadly force was necessary to defend himself and the civilians present from the imminent use of deadly physical force," Colangelo wrote in his report.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"It is further concluded that Officer Fenton acted in conformance with Fairfield Police Department Procedures and Policies and Connecticut law in employing deadly force to protect himself or another, and that his belief was objectively reasonable," Colangelo wrote. "The use of such force was both reasonable and justified under the circumstances. Therefore, I have determined that Officer Sean Fenton was justified in his use of deadly force upon Christopher Andrews..."

Andrews cut his wrist and stabbed himself in the neck with a knife after he allegedly beat and stabbed his wife and children on the morning he was shot and killed by a Fairfield police officer, the Post previously reported in March.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Andrews’ 15-year-old son told police during a 911 call that his father was acting “possessed” and had never acted that way before, the Post has reported. The incident occurred on Mountain Laurel Road at the family's home on Feb. 16.

Fenton shot Andrews in the driveway after police said he didn't comply with their orders to drop his weapon, which was reportedly a knife.

Related:

Kathleen Andrews, 50, who had been listed in critical condition following the assault, was released from the hospital on Feb. 22 and said in a statement at the time that Christopher was an “incredible husband, father and friend and deserves to be remembered as such.”

The couple’s youngest child, who police found in the master bedroom with Kathleen Andrews on the morning of the attack, according to the Post, also sustained serious injuries in the attack.

File photo by Al Branch

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.