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Suspect's Girlfriend Speaks About Officer Shooting

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Jason Razzino's girlfriend, Ashley Williams, said her boyfriend had much to live for, but suffered from depression and alcohol addiction. 

Police have identified Razzino, 30, as the man who shot a Norwich police officer during a stand-off on Monday, and then shot and killed himself.

Williams said she and Razzino moved into their Cedar Glen Apartment in October and were expecting their first child next month.

However, Razzino's battle with depression and alcohol addiction stood in the way of their total happiness.

It's a battle Razzino was desperately seeking help for, Williams said.

"He was trying to get help," said said from her mother's Rhode Island home a day after Razzino turned a gun on a police officer and then himself inside their apartment during an 11-hour standoff.

"He was calling doctors and trying to get in for some mental health issues for months," Williams stated.

Williams believe that the stresses of life led him to tell her to take his 11-year-old son to Rhode Island on Sunday so he could think about some things on his own.

On Monday morning he was fine, but by afternoon he became upset, telling her he called the suicide hotline while she called Norwich Police, Williams said.

“To let them know that he may be dangerous. To be careful,” Williams said.

The situation escalated when police arrived around 2:45 p.m., according to State Police. Razzino barricaded himself inside his apartment with at least one handgun and a rifle.

An hour later, shots were fired and 14-year Norwich Police veteran Jonathan Ley was hit with four of the bullets.

Williams said she remained in contact with Razzino until around 7 p.m., when his phone started going straight to voice mail. She continued to get updates from the negotiator at the scene, but never spoke to her boyfriend again.

However, a chilling last Facebook message Razzino posted during the standoff gives a glimpse of his mental state. It read, "let's bang this out."

"It's heart-wrenching because you just want to tell him that this dosen’t need to happen, ” she said through tears. "I know he was hurting and I know he was scared and that was the worst part."

Williams, who is on maternity leave from the military, said police called her at 2 a.m. to let her know Razzino was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound when they entered his apartment.

“I’m sorry that officer got hurt. As for Jason, I don’t know what he was thinking. He was not this person,” she said.

Officer Ley's condition continues to improve at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

 


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