Two Westchester County police officers were injured on Sept. 14 after a Cortlandt man barricaded himself inside his home and opened fire on tactical officers from the WCPD Special Response Team.
The two officers who were struck, apparently by bullet fragments, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. One was treated at the scene for an arm injury while the other was taken to the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla to be treated for a wound to his leg.
The incident began about 12:20 p.m. when New York State Police received a report of a barricaded person at a home on Quaker Bridge Road. County Police officers also responded to provide assistance, including Patrol officers, hostage negotiators and members of the Special Response Team, which is the County Police special weapons and tactics unit.
New York State Police estimate that the subject fired about 40 rounds at SRT members from inside the home. Police on the scene did not return fire. A ballistic shield used by SRT was heavily damaged by gunfire.
A County police robot outfitted with a camera was utilized during the incident to obtain images from inside the residence.
The barricaded person, identified by NYSP as Christopher Pesavento, 50, was subsequently found deceased inside the residence. The incident remains under investigation by the New York State Police and New York State Attorney General’s Office.
The NYS Police reported, “On September 14, 2022, at about 12:20 p.m., the New York State Police responded to a residence on Quaker Bridge Road in the town of Cortlandt for a barricaded subject armed with a gun. The State Police, in conjunction with the Westchester County Police Department, established a safe perimeter around the residence and crisis negotiators attempted for nearly 12 hours to convince Christopher Pesavento, age 50, of Croton-On-Hudson, to peacefully surrender. During the negotiations, Pesavento fired multiple rounds at police officers from inside the residence, striking two Westchester Police Department officers who suffered non-life-threatening wounds. Both officers were treated and released from a local hospital. Shortly after midnight on September 15, a member of law enforcement was able to determine that Pesavento was deceased. No members of law enforcement discharged rounds from their weapons, but less than lethal methods were utilized in an attempt to force a peaceful surrender.
It was later determined that Pesavaento was a member of two Westchester Fire Departments. His obituary reads, “Christopher Michael Pesavento, 50, of Croton-on-Hudson, NY passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. Chris was born to Bruno and Mary (Healy) Pesavento on February 7, 1972 in Sleepy Hollow, NY. Chris was a lifelong resident of Croton on Hudson, NY, graduating from Croton-Harmon High School. He was a 30 year member of the Croton Fire Department and recently retired after 25 years as Lieutenant with the Greenville Fire Department in Greenburgh, NY and was proud of the work he did at Ground Zero after 9/11. Chris was a loving husband and father. He married his beloved wife Jennifer Allen Pesavento in March 2009. He loved spending time taking his children golfing and to sports practice. He enjoyed the outdoors and trips to Teatown Preserve and also took great pride and enjoyment from trips to LBI with his family. Chris is survived by his wife Jennifer Pesavento, cherished children Dominique, Christian, and Niko, loving father Bruno Pesavento, caring siblings Cecilia, Bruno (Debbie Maldonado), and Ann Marie Pesavento (Andrew Millouras), and adored nieces and nephew Caitlyn, Danielle, Joshua, and Meghan. Chris is also survived by many loved in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends. A Memorial Visitation will be held on Friday, September 23, 2022 from 5-8PM at Edward F. Carter Funeral Home, 41 Grand St., Croton-on-Hudson, NY. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated 10AM on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at St. Augustine Church, Ossining, NY.”
The Greenburgh Fire Department posted the following on Facebook,” It is with great sadness we mourn the sudden loss of our brother LT (Ret.) Christopher Pesavento. LT Pesavento served from 1999-2021. Chris previously served with both the City of Peekskill and Hartsdale Fire Department. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, children, family and friends during this difficult time. RIP Brother. @greenburghfirefighters.”
