Police Officer William McNamara

William McNamara

Police Officer William McNamara was accidentally shot and killed by his partner during a shootout with a robbery suspect.

The two officers had responded to a robbery call at a liquor store on Washington Boulevard. They located the man in a nearby hotel lobby holding the liquor store clerk at gunpoint. When the suspect saw Officer McNamara's partner, the man started to point his gun at the officer but was shot.

Officer McNamara, who was trying to get a better position on the suspect, came out of a nearby room just as the shooting took place. The partner, who saw Officer McNamara's gun, then opened, turned, and shot Officer McNamara, thinking he was another suspect. Officer McNamara was taken to Stamford Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The shooting was ruled accidental.

Officer McNamara was a U.S. Navy veteran and had been with the Stamford Police Department for four years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, son, mother, and four siblings.