Authorities: Hofstra Student Was Struck And Killed By Officer's Bullet
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A funeral mass is planned for next week for a Hofstra University student who was shot and killed during a break-in at her apartment on the school's campus in Uniondale.
The funeral for Andrea Rebello will be Wednesday at St. Teresa of Avila Church in the Westchester County town of Sleepy Hollow. The newspaper says the service will be in Portuguese.
Rebello and an armed intruder were both fatally shot Friday.
Rebello, her twin sister Jessica, a man and another woman were inside a house Rebello shared with her sorority sisters at 213 California Ave., when a gunman wearing a ski mask forced his way in around 2:28 a.m., Nassau County Deputy Inspector Kenneth Lack said.
Police arrived at the house 10 minutes after the suspect allowed one of the women to leave, possibly to go get cash. The woman then called 911, Lack said.
Authorities announced on Saturday that it was an officer's bullet that struck Rebello. The woman was struck and killed after officers opened fire on alleged home invader Dalton Smith, said Nassau County Homicide squad Lt. John Azzata. Smith was apparently making a motion indicating that he was going to fire on officers as he dragged Rebello out of the house in a headlock, according to authorities.
Smith was hit seven times, Rebello was struck once in the head.
Police: Officer's Bullet Killed Hofstra Student
"Shortly after our arrival, there was a police-involved shooting which takes place in the home," Lack told reporters at a news conference Friday morning. "In that shooting, the suspect is killed and also one victim is killed."
Smith, who was carrying a loaded 9mm pistol at the time, had a troubled past.
In 1999 he was charged with first degree robbery, in 2000 he was charged with promoting prison contraband, and in 2003 he was arrested for robbery and assault.
Smith allegedly walked into Rebello's house through an open door and demanded valuables, as a horrific scene ensued.
"He forced everybody upstairs at gunpoint to their bedrooms to retrieve the money, jewelry and other personal effects," police said.
Neighbors overheard the commotion.
"I heard screams and I told my boyfriend, I said 'Frank, I think someone just got murdered by the way the scream was, that was so awful,'" Dehel added.
The shooting as cast a pall over the university community gearing up for commencement ceremonies Sunday.
"It's ridiculous. It's so sad and this happens all the time, that's whats upsetting," a Hofstra student told Gusoff.
"It's supposed to be a sweet ending to a college year, now it's a bitter ending," Scott Aharoni, a Hofstra freshman, told Gusoff.
Rebello was a junior at the school. Her twin sister, who was inside the house at the time of the break-in, was not hurt and is currently with family, police said.
On Saturday, the Hofstra community paused to remember the popular co-ed, and counseling services were made available to those having difficulty coping with her death.
"The community is trying to help each other, they had a counseling service the other day and they're trying to help people if they're feeling any kind of depression or anything," said Faridah Seriki.
Police continued to investigate Saturday.
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