An NYPD school safety officer was shot and killed in a Brooklyn apartment by her boyfriend who then turned the gun on himself, while her son sheltered in the next room.
The New York police have yet to release an official statement, but according to local media reports, law enforcement says that Naire McCormick, 44, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head late on Sunday night.
Her boyfriend, Jancy Dempster, 47, had shot her, before shooting himself, police said, according to the New York Post.
Both were dead at the scene.
In addition to her job as a school safety officer, McCormick also worked on the side as a plus-size model, winning a local competition last year.
Police responded to a 911 call at the apartment on Sept. 15, meeting Dempster’s cousin and McCormick’s son as they fled into the hallway after hearing the gunfire.
Witnesses told the Post that prior to the shooting they had heard sounds of an argument.
Dempster had been drinking heavily, according to police sources cited by the Post, as they celebrated his birthday.
The couple could often be heard fighting, Yvonne Jordan, 33, who lived across from McCormick, told the New York Daily News, describing Dempster as “a jealous guy.”
“I kept saying [to myself] he’s gonna hurt her, he’s gonna hurt her,’” Jordan said, adding that she didn’t intervene as McCormick was a “strong woman and she stood her ground.”
“I really can’t believe this happened because I saw it with my own eyes,” Jordan said in reference to the couple’s relationship. “They would go in their room and fight.”
Dempster had four prior arrests on charges including robbery and weapon possession, according to sources cited by the Daily News and the Post.
15 year NYPD School Safety Officer, Naire McCormick. Tragically a victim of a domestic incident late last night. We send our condolences and prayers to her family, school safety and her friends. #restpeacefully pic.twitter.com/4svmN9kqTT
— NYPD Guardians Assoc (@GuardiansNYPD) September 16, 2019
McCormick had worked as a school safety officer for 15 years, according to the NYPD Guardian Association. Last year she won the Face of Kurvacious contest, an annual pageant for plus-size models sponsored by a Rockland County boutique.
Local school safety organizations played tribute to McCormick.
Today is a sad day as we mourn the death of our beloved School Safety Agent Naire McCormick. She will be deeply missed by her friends, family, the youth & faculty she served at her school and her NYPD School Safety Family. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/66OdUdf7gn
— NYPD School Safety (@NYPDSchools) September 16, 2019
“Today is a sad day as we mourn the death of our beloved School Safety Agent Naire McCormick. She will be deeply missed by her friends, family, the youth and faculty she served at her school, and her NYPD School Safety Family,” said a statement on the official Twitter account of the NYPD School Safety Division.
