Baldwin Police Kill Vietnam Vet Who Pointed Rifle At Officer

An officer shot and killed a man who pointed a high-powered rifle at another officer and threatened to kill her, Baldwin police said.

Baldwin Police Chief Michael Scott said Edward Zevola, 61, was killed by a single gunshot. Scott said officers had been called to the Songo Street home shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday by Zevola’s wife, who said he was suicidal and threatened to kill her.

When police arrived, they found Zevola sitting outside on lawn furniture with the assault rifle.

"I saw police running up the street with shotguns out and I was afraid, so I closed the door and peeked out,” said a neighbor who asked to remain unidentified. “It was a gentlemen in the bush area, screaming, ‘Don't come up here, or I'll shoot.’”

Police said Zevola told Officer Kim Reising that he didn't want to shoot her but was a Vietnam veteran and would shoot her in the head rather than in her bulletproof vest. The officers were still trying to calm Zevola down when he pointed the gun at Reising, who was about 20 feet away, and the other officer fired, police said.

"She talked to him for a period of time," said Scott. "He had not raised his rifle in her direction. He started moving toward her. He raised the rifle. He was aware several of our officers were to the side of him, and one of the officers took the shot."

"It’s sad thing,” said neighbor Grace Karwowski. “This is a quiet neighborhood. (He) kept to himself.”

Erma Stanis said her husband worked with Zevola at the Northside Post Office in the 1980s.

"He was a great hunter, so naturally he would have a gun,” Stanis said.

The officer who fired the fatal shot is a 10-year veteran of the force. He has been placed on administrative leave.

Police continue to investigate.

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