A Connecticut man now faces charges in the killing of an active-duty Bridgeport firefighter, police said Sunday.
Stratford Police arrested Jabari Bush after officers discovered Terrence Cramer suffering from a severe gunshot wound during a shooting on Feeley Street in Stratford early Sunday morning.
Paramedics arrived at the scene, but officials pronounced Cramer, a Bridgeport resident, dead shortly afterward, police said.
What to know about Terrence Cramer
The 41-year-old father of three served with the Bridgeport Fire Department for nearly a decade.
“Firefighter Cramer served the City of Bridgeport with dedication and honor for 9.5 years, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and safety of others,” the department shared in a Facebook post confirming his death.
Mayor Joe Ganim released a statement saying Cramer “was not only a valued member of our Fire Department, but also a proud public servant whose loss will be felt deeply across our entire city.”
“I join Chief [Lance] Edwards and the members of the Bridgeport Fire Department in mourning [Cramer’s] tragic passing,” the mayor added.
Ganim said he has asked that all flags at municipal buildings be lowered to half-staff this week.
“It’s very heartbreaking”
Shanyah Neal Walker spoke warmly about her stepfather.
“Such, such, such, such a sweet person, very brave, very courageous,” Walker said, expressing love and admiration despite the unimaginable loss. “It’s very heartbreaking. There are so many question I have as far as why, how, answers that I might never get.”
Colleagues said Cramer was always the first to step in when someone was in danger.
Cramer’s 10-year-old son, Jackson, said he understood firefighting was his father’s passion.
“He liked saving people because it made him feel good and he always wanted to be a firefighter,” Jackson Cramer said.
The charges the suspect faces
Bush, 41, went into custody after a brief vehicle pursuit in Derby, nearly 15 hours after officers found Cramer घायल, police said.
Authorities charged Bush with murder, home invasion, and criminal possession of a firearm.
Officials have not shared details about what led to the shooting, but Cramer’s family said they are focusing on remembering who he was.
“I have mercy. I’m not God. I do not judge. I wish that person the best and, hopefully, they have time to think about their actions,” Walker said. “[The shooting] left us very devastated. I don’t know how to move forward in this situation.”