mom walking the dog shot dead by his lover’s cop husband Last year, she filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the NYPD, arguing that the man who killed her son should never have had a gun.
Edward Wilkins, 20, was shot dead by Officer Sean Armstead, 36, outside Buffalo Wild Wings in Wallkill on May 8, 2022. .
Wilkins’ mother Helena Dow sued the NYPD on Thursday, claiming the department should have known Armstead was suffering from mental health problems and shouldn’t have been allowed to carry a gun. The Supreme Court of Manhattan.
Armstead, who was supposed to be working the midnight shift at PSA 8 in the Bronx, complained of sick leave on the day of the murder and said he was “accredited to get his military handgun and three clips of ammunition for negligence.” ” the lawsuit alleges. .
Jealous cops tracked down Vanderhayden and Wilkins — employee of her dog walking company — to the La Quinta Inn north of Wallkill.
He later crashes a car into Wilkins after chasing him on NY-211, before Wilkins escapes on foot.
Wilkins — only made it to the parking lot of the Buffalo Wild Wings — shot by armstead Eleven times outside the restaurant, according to the complaint.
Both men were found dead after their husband also shot himself when Vanderheiden, who had been with Armstead for nine years, arrived at the scene, sources told the Post in May.
Armstead “was off-duty and had no good reason to carry a gun because he was inadvertently allowed to possess a military-grade handgun and three rounds of ammunition despite having been previously ill and hospitalized. ” the complaint alleges.
And this 11-year veteran police officer, who “has a mental illness, is a known threat to violence, is mentally and emotionally ill to become a police officer, is dangerous… No,” the lawsuit alleges.
The NYPD’s failure to “supervise Armstead and entrust him with a handgun” was “a substantial factor and proximate cause of Wilkins’ death,” the lawsuit alleges. .
Leading up to his tragic murder, Wilkins endured “pre-crash terror, suffered excruciating pain…and agony, including the fear of imminent death when his car was hit by Armstead.” rice field.
Dow is suing for unspecified damages. Her suit is also named after the Armstead estate.
Dow attorney Michael Kolb of law firm O’Connor & Partners, PLLC told The Post: [Dow] teeth [Wilkins’] For my mother, this issue was very difficult. ”
He declined to comment further.
Vanderheyden has not been named as a defendant in the lawsuit. I couldn’t find her Thursday work phone number.
The NYPD declined to comment as the lawsuit is pending.
The Orange County Treasurer is listed as the custodian of the Armstead estate. A real estate attorney declined to comment.
AhAdditional reporting by Craig McCarthy