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MINEOLA, N.Y. In what police are describing as a crime of opportunity, a wanted man with a
criminal history dating nearly 15 years entered a front door that had been left open at a New York
home near Hofstra University.
A short time later, the intruder, Dalton Smith, and a 21-year-old college junior, Andrea Rebello, were
both dead. The two were killed early Friday by a Nassau County police officer who fired eight shots
at the masked man, hitting him seven times but also accidentally hitting Rebello once in the head,
Nassau County homicide squad Lt. John Azzata said Saturday.
Smith was holding Rebello in a headlock and pointing a gun at her head before he turned his gun at
the officer, Azzata said, prompting the shooting.
"He kept saying, 'I'm going to kill her,' and then he pointed the gun at the police officer," Azzata
said.
A loaded 9 mm handgun with a serial number scratched off was found at the scene, police said.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale said he had traveled to Rebello's Tarrytown, N.Y.,
home to explain to Rebello's parents what happened.
"I felt obligated as a police commissioner and as a parent to inform them as soon as all the forensic
results were completed," Dale said.
The veteran police officer, who was not identified, has about 12 years of experience on the Nassau
County police force and previously spent several years as a New York City police officer, Dale said.
The officer is currently out on sick leave. He will be the focus of an internal police investigation once
the criminal investigation is completed, which is standard police procedure in any officer-involved
shooting, the commissioner said.
The shooting came just days before the school's commencement ceremonies, which are scheduled
for Sunday.
A university spokeswoman said students will be handed white ribbons to wear in memory of Rebello.
The shooting, which took place just steps from campus, has cast a pall over the university
"The family's a very good family, they have very good values," he said. "They are a very good, very
devoted family."
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rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/long-island-police-defend-hofstra-student-killing/