Executive Summary
- Hinsdale Police Sgt. Dominick Crupi was shot twice during a confrontation on Jan. 7; his injuries are serious but non-life-threatening.
- Suspect Biagio Kauvil, 27, was killed by police fire after allegedly shooting Crupi and Chief Shawn Boyne.
- The incident began as a wellness check initiated by an FBI tip regarding mental health concerns.
- Crupi faces multiple surgeries, and a GoFundMe has been established for his wife and five children.
HINSDALE, Mass. – A Hinsdale police sergeant sustained serious gunshot wounds and a suspect was killed during a violent confrontation on January 7 that began as a requested wellness check, according to officials from the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities identified the injured officer as Sgt. Dominick Crupi, who was transported to Albany Medical Center in New York. The District Attorney’s office described his injuries as serious but not life-threatening. The incident originated on January 6 when the FBI’s national crime tip center received a call from a man, later identified as 27-year-old New York resident Biagio Kauvil, making claims that raised immediate mental health concerns.
Following an alert from the FBI, a law enforcement team comprising Sgt. Crupi, Hinsdale Police Chief Shawn Boyne, and officers from the Dalton Police Department located Kauvil the following day. According to the District Attorney, Kauvil barricaded himself in a bedroom upon their arrival. Investigators noted that Sgt. Crupi, having previously established a rapport with the subject, attempted to de-escalate the situation by speaking through the door for approximately 30 minutes.
When police determined Kauvil needed to be taken into custody, Sgt. Crupi breached the door. The District Attorney’s office stated that Kauvil was holding a firearm and requested officers end his life. During the ensuing struggle, Kauvil allegedly fired a shot that passed through Sgt. Crupi’s hand and struck Chief Boyne. Another officer reportedly returned fire, accidentally striking Sgt. Crupi in the elbow, before firing a second shot that struck Kauvil in the head, proving fatal.
A fundraising effort has been launched to assist Sgt. Crupi’s family during his recovery. Organizers of the GoFundMe campaign noted that Crupi is the sole provider for his wife and five children and faces multiple surgeries and rehabilitation.
Investigative Protocols
This incident represents a complex officer-involved shooting involving a fatality, injuries to multiple officers, and an instance of accidental discharge striking a colleague. Such events typically trigger a comprehensive review by independent investigators to reconstruct the timeline and ballistics, ensuring all use-of-force guidelines were followed. As the investigation proceeds, it is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and official findings will determine the final legal classification of the events described.
