Once again the Oneida County community has been numbed by tragedy rooted in domestic violence. And once again, through what can only be described as life’s ultimate horror story, we are reminded that the effort to raise community consciousness to this type of violence cannot be understated.
Details of the tragic shooting early Tuesday morning have yet to be revealed and eventually, they must be. What is painfully clear is that 24-year-old Oneida County Sheriff’s Deputy Kurt Wyman is dead. He leaves behind an 18-month-old son and his wife, who went into labor after hearing the news of her husband’s shooting, and delivered a healthy baby girl hours later. Wyman also leaves his parents and a sister.
Police say Wyman was shot by Christian Patterson, 40, who had been holed up in the garage at his 5488 Knoxboro Road home in the southern Oneida County town of Augusta. Patterson was subsequently shot by police and underwent surgery at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica and is now in a medically induced coma.
The tragedy began as a domestic dispute call — one many officers fear most because of their unpredictability — during which Patterson allegedly threatened to kill his live-in girlfriend. She reportedly called police, after which Patterson barricaded himself in the garage. Following six hours of negotiations, he fired two shots as deputies attempted to take him into custody. One hit Wyman.
This is the fourth incident in the past three years where lives have been lost following incidents of domestic violence.
In September 2009, Kristen Palumbo Longo was stabbed to death by her husband, Utica police Investigator Joseph Longo, who later killed himself. Palumbo Longo was in the process of divorcing her husband, who had a history of mental and verbal abuse.
In June 2010, Adam Theall shot his 3-month-old son to death at point-blank range in Blossvale following a dispute with the child’s mother. Multiple domestic violence issues between the couple had been reported.
In August 2010, Lisa Guzzardo, of Westmoreland was fatally shot by her husband, David Hoole. He then killed himself. Hoole had a pattern of abuse, which included shooting at his first wife 10 years ago, records showed.
In each case, domestic violence has been the trigger for tragedy. While not every case can be defused, we all have a social responsibility to be eyes and ears in the community because often victims of domestic violence are alone and frightened. Victims are often reluctant to report abuse, and that’s why it’s important to watch for signs that might indicate that something is wrong. You might then help point the way to a safer place.
Locally, the YWCA Mohawk Valley has long been a key player in the battle against domestic violence. It offers numerous programs aimed at educating and raising awareness, and also provides a 24-hour emergency hotline as well as a safe house and emergency shelter for those who need protection. The most difficult thing often is getting victims to make the call.
Unfortunately, not all tragedies will be prevented. But each one of us needs to make a commitment to do whatever we can to short-circuit trouble, even if it means just getting victims to make that call. Remember, domestic violence affects everyone — men, women and children. It robs children of their innocence. It destroys families.
And in the most horrific cases, it ends lives.
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