Investigators say that a murder-suicide in suburban New York involved a member of the New York City Police Department, who apparently chased down and killed his wife’s 20-year-old lover before ending his own life.
A statement from police in Wallkill, N.Y., indicates that 36-year-old Sean Armstead was off-duty from his job with the NYPD on the evening of May 8 when he confronted Edward Wilkins outside a Buffalo Wild Wings for carrying on an affair with his wife Alexandra Vanderheyden, 35.
That’s where he shot Wilkins multiple times before turning the gun on himself.
The statement alleges that Armstead, an NYPD officer for more than 10 years, and Wilkins were “known to each other,” and that Armstead rammed his vehicle into Wilkins’ as both were traveling along Route 211 in Orange County.
The collision spun Wilkins’ car around, and that it came to an abrupt stop. Wilkins, who the sources say worked for Armstead’s wife’s dog-walking business, exited his vehicle and fled.
Armstead followed him into the restaurant’s parking lot where, after a brief argument, shots rang out.
Police were first called to the scene after 10:30 p.m.
Before crashing into Wilkins’ car, Armstead had followed him from Nearby Wallkill hotel. Wilkins and Armstead’s wife had been together in one of the hotel’s rooms for hours prior.
Wilkins was shot 16 times and died from a bullet wound to the back of the head.
Hundreds of people packed a small upstate funeral home, William M. Gagan Funeral Home in Pine Bush, Saturday to remember Edward Wilkins. There was no sign of Armstead’s wife.
Wilkins graduated high school in 2020, and had only turned 20 last month.
“It’s a terrible tragedy. He just turned 20. His birthday was April 12,” said a woman who identified herself as Wilkins’ grandmother but would not provide her name.
“I blame the woman,” she added.
Mourners, including high school friends of Wilkins, were provided with small remembrance cards bearing a photo of a smiling Wilkins in a cap and gown from his 2020 graduation from Pine Bush High School.
Poster boards of the young victim lined the walls. On one board were certificates of his accomplishments including for security guard training and film production and a photo of him winning a wrestling match, his hand held up in the air signaling victory.
Other photos showed a younger Wilkins on Little League teams. In one, he’s wearing a Boston Red Sox jersey and grinning for the camera.
His obituary on the funeral home website described him as “a lover of all things baseball” who was working as a security officer at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello and “looking forward to a future in Corrections.”
Wilkins lay in a brown casket clothed in a baby blue button down shirt with a teddy bear by his side.
“It’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair,” wailed a woman in front of his casket while hugging a mourner.
A friend who identified herself as Amelia called Wilkins “a great person.”
“He never did anything that he wasn’t supposed to. He was always nice to everyone. He was like my brother,” she said, breaking down in tears.
“He never did anything he wasn’t supposed to do” (sob sob) Um. I disagree. He decided to have an affair with the wife of a cop!!!! Not a slick move! As he discovered.
amen
Well wise one having affair with anybody doesn’t normally require a death sentence
Every day some gets killed for affairs with someones spouse. Dumbass.
Yes, it does…but both of them. FJB
Moral of the story? Don’t have sex with someone you’re not married to.
As too often happens in cases like this, the guy shot the wrong person.
Never under estimate the consequences of infidelity. The wife was lucky she wasn’t shot. She got greedy now has neither of them.
Wife is a ho.
No one should have been shot especially 16 times! And now being contradictory if the cop thought he had to shoot someone it should have been his wife! She obviously preyed on this young kid. Not that he was totally innocent but he was very young and full of (well you know)
Now 2 people are dead and the wife gets a new dog walker and young lover!
All making assumptions. No one really knows how this all came about. Who is actually to blame, if anyone. What bothers me is “a cop” shoots this kid 16 times???! Not too much overkill from a supposed man of the law? Just a peek inside what m8ght have gone on behind closed doors.
This is Joe Biden’s America people killing each other for nothing . This murderous cop married a prostitute and killed this poor kid who paid for with his life for a prostitute. Typical cop .
Did Officer Armstead never Here about divorce Sure it is easy to say sure but but sometimes it hurts too much think straight. Who will cast the first stone
Very sad ☹️