Former NYPD Cop Wanted In Ex-Girlfriend's Murder Jumps In Front Of Train
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A fired New York City police officer suspected of fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend with a machete in the driveway of her New Jersey home jumped in front of a subway train in Manhattan, authorities said.
Arthur Lomando, 44, was wanted in the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend, 48-year-old Suzanne Bardzell of Midland Park, New Jersey on Thursday, said Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli.
Authorities said Lomando confronted Bardzell in her driveway, broke her left window and then attacked her with a very large, machete-type knife, striking her several times.
Bardzell, a special education teacher with two teenage sons, died at the scene. Molinelli said the murder weapon was left inside the vehicle.
People in the small community of Midland Park are still stunned over the shocking murder, CBS2's Scott Rapoport reported.
"It was terrible. I feel so bad for her children and the family," said one woman.
"It's sad. Oh my God," said neighbor Emmy Eliya, who described Bardzell as a nice, kind woman.
"Was very good mom. Was taking care of her kids. We talked about her kids. It's a shame," Eliya said.
Neighbors said they've seen police at the house recently and some neighbors suspected something terrible was going to happen, Rapoport reported.
"Last week one of the neighbors, when we were walking here, he told us that somebody wanted to kill this lady," said neighbor Maryam Fatollahi.
Prosecutors say Bardzell dated Lomando for three years after meeting online. They say she recently took out a restraining order against him after a history of domestic violence, Rapoport reported.
"While there is evidence of a history of domestic violence between Ms. Bardzell and the assailant, it appears that she did not notify police and come in and file complaints with the police department until just recently," Molinelli said.
Following the attack, Lomando threw himself in front of an oncoming C subway train at Amsterdam and St. Nicholas avenues in Upper Manhattan, Molinelli said.
He underwent surgery at Harlem Hospital after suffering serious injuries to his head and legs and remains in police custody.
Lomando's neighbors in Centereach, Long Island expressed shock and disbelief.
Many said they didn't know much about Lomando and that he mostly kept to himself.
"He always walked out to his mailbox, opened up the garage door and then went back in. That's all he every did. Always kept to himself," Ken, who lives across the street from Lomando, told WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs.
"It's unbelievable, I'm beside myself," another neighbor said.
Many neighbors said they didn't even know Lomando was a former police officer, Xirinachs reported.
Lomando was separated from the NYPD for quite a few years for "physical and or mental reasons," Molinelli said.