Man who shot wife in Middle Island says he was 'on autopilot'
Darryl Fowler told investigators shooting came after he lost his job
4 comments below
Former New York Police Department cop Darryl Fowler described himself to investigators as "on autopilot" when he broke into his wife's Middle Island home and shot her multiple times, a Suffolk prosecutor said during Mr. Fowler's arraignment Wednesday inside a Riverhead courtroom.
Assistant District Attorney Todd Pettigrew said Mr. Fowler, 43, of Amityville violated a "stay away" order barring him from coming into contact with his wife, Michelle, 46, when he obtained a job at Suffolk County Community College, where she also worked. When the school learned of the order, they terminated Mr. Fowler's employment, the prosecutor said.
"Apparently, this enraged the defendant," Mr. Pettigrew said.
Mr. Fowler pleaded not guilty through his attorney to upgraded charges that include attempted second-degree murder, assault, burglary, leaving the scene of an accident and various charges involving disobeying a court order, according to online court documents.
Ms. Fowler requested an order of protection in April, which barred her husband from contacting her; however, he violated that order on Sept. 28 after "barging in" through the front door of her Coram home and into the bedroom where she was with a friend, according to Mr. Pettigrew. It was then that Ms. Fowler obtained a full "stay away order" from First District Court in Central Islip.
Suffolk Police told The North Shore Sun that Ms. Fowler had gone to the Sixth Precinct the night of the attack to report that her husband had violated an order of protection by contacting her by telephone and was interviewed about the incident. Police began actively looking for Mr. Fowler after Ms. Fowler notified them, police said. After her interview with investigators, police said Ms. Fowler was offered safe housing and a panic alarm, but declined the offer and left the precinct.
The shots woke up Ms. Fowler's 16-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, Mr. Pettigrew said.
"She woke up and found her mother bleeding and called 911," he said.
Mr. Fowler fled the scene in his sport utility vehicle and side-swiped an ambulance responding to the emergency call, Mr. Pettigrew said.
No one else was injured in the crash, according to authorities.
Ms. Fowler is a "long way from recovery," Mr. Pettigrew said.
Two orders of protection were issued during Wednesday's proceeding: one for Ms. Fowler and the other for her daughter, Mr. Pettigrew said.
Mr. Fowler was remanded to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead, where he will be held without bail. He is scheduled to appear in court for a conference on Dec. 4.
Mr. Fowler's defense attorney, Frank Doddato of Garden City, offered little comment about him outside the courtroom other than to point out that he's a former police officer.
"The bottom line is he happens to be a terribly nice guy from a terribly nice family," Mr. Doddato said of Mr. Fowler. "It's just a tragedy that he finds himself in this situation."
peggy@northshoresun.com
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4 comments found
: 6/14/2010
There is never two sides to a story when someone is sleeping in their bed and another person breaks into their home to murder them.
: 1/28/2010
I have know Daryl since he was a kid he practically live at my house with my younger brother I have never seem him raised his voice in the 20+ yrs Ive known believe me there are 2 sides to this story. sometime people are driven to raged they would normally not engaged in not saying what he did was right, but it broke my heart that such a nice guy could be driven to such rage
A TRUE FRIEND : 1/13/2010
I'M IN THE US ARMY AND MR FOWLER HAS BEEN MY FRIENDS AND FRIENDS WITH MY FAMILY FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN MASSAPEQUA NY I ONLY GOT TO SEE HIM WHEN I GO TO VISITE HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY UNDERSTANDING PERSON WITH THE PERECT ATTITUDE THERE IS ALWAYS TO SIDES TO A STORY AND I THINK IT TOOK A WHOLE LOT TO PUSH THIS MAN TO THE EDGE LIKE THIS
SIGNED TRUE FRIEND TERRY FT LEE VA
Middle Island Man : 11/6/2009
I think a lot of these cops go crazy. Maybe its their job, I know its not an easy job to have. There are a lot of risks involved. I guess its like being in the Military. They see too much,
