BEAR, DELAWARE (6/18/2015) A volunteer firefighter and retired paramedic killed himself when officers investigating sex abuse claims attempted to contact him, New Castle County police reported today.
The investigation of Bruce A. Durante, 58, of the 2300 block of Milton Place in the Cobblestones town house community in Bear, began Sunday morning, Officer First Class Tracey Duffy said, after police learned of allegations he had sexually abused a young child.
Officers went to a home in the 400 block of Lovers Lane near Kirkwood and contacted Durante by phone and asked he come out of the home, Duffy said.
When he did, he was holding a gun which he immediately discharged into his body, Duffy said. Officers performed first aid before Durante was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Duffy said officers were not threatened by Durante and they did not fire any weapons.
Duffy said Durante retired from New Castle County paramedics in February. She didn’t know which fire company of which he was a member.
Detectives later learned of another victim claiming they were sexually abused by Durante, Duffy said, from November 2013 to March 2015.
She asked any other victims to call police at 302-573-2800.
Tips also may be submitted anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers, which offers rewards, at 800-847-3333 or www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.