A mother and her son lost their lives in a devastating shooting carried out by her estranged husband, a tragedy that unfolded Thursday evening in a quiet Wolcott neighborhood, leaving a community in shock. The violent confrontation ended when a family friend fatally shot the husband in an apparent act of self-defense. The victims were identified by Wolcott police as Michelle Cote, 55, of Colchester; her estranged husband, David Cote, 59, of Wolcott; and their son, David “Dave” Cote Jr., 34, also of Colchester. The incident occurred at a residence on Bound Line Road, a street unaccustomed to such turmoil in this small Connecticut town.

Michelle Cote was a familiar figure in the state’s correctional system, having dedicated over two decades of her life to her role as a correctional identification and record specialist at the Cheshire Correctional Institution. She began her career there in October 1998, earning respect among colleagues for her steady professionalism. Her life, however, took a tragic turn when she arrived at the Wolcott home to assist her estranged husband, David Cote Sr., in moving out. The couple had been separated for more than a year, a detail that underscores the tension that had long simmered between them.

According to Wolcott Police Chief Edward Stephens, officers were dispatched to 634 Bound Line Road at approximately 6:27 p.m. following a frantic 911 call reporting gunfire. When they arrived, they encountered a man outside the home—the friend of David Cote Jr.—who had placed the emergency call. Inside, police discovered a grim scene: three individuals lay dead on the bedroom floor, each felled by gunshot wounds. The investigation quickly pieced together the sequence of events that led to this heartbreaking outcome.

David Cote Sr. was in the process of relocating, with his son and a close friend assisting him in the effort. Michelle Cote, despite their estrangement, had also come to help, perhaps in a gesture of goodwill or necessity. What began as a practical task soon spiraled into chaos. An argument broke out between Michelle and David Sr., escalating rapidly into a physical altercation. Witnesses described a moment of terror as David Sr. allegedly knocked Michelle to the ground and drew a firearm, pointing it at her. David Jr., hearing his mother’s distress, rushed into the room alongside his friend to intervene.

In the ensuing struggle, David Cote Sr. turned the gun on his wife and son, firing shots that claimed both their lives. The friend, who police have not yet named pending further investigation, acted swiftly. Armed with his own legally registered weapon, he shot David Sr., bringing the violent episode to a close. The friend’s voice trembled as he spoke to dispatchers in the 911 call, a recording of which captured the raw panic of the moment. “Three people just got shot. Please hurry,” he pleaded, his words a desperate cry for help amid the chaos.

Chief Stephens addressed the press with a somber tone, calling the incident “very unfortunate for everyone involved.” He noted that the friend, deeply shaken by the ordeal, was cooperating fully with authorities. Preliminary findings suggest the friend’s actions were a matter of self-defense, a determination that will be scrutinized as the investigation continues under the oversight of the Connecticut State Police Major Crimes unit and Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen Platt.

The Bound Line Road home, now cordoned off with police tape, stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of domestic peace. Wolcott, a town known for its tranquility and low crime rate, has been thrust into an unfamiliar spotlight. Stephens emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public, but the emotional toll on this tight-knit community will linger. David Cote Sr. held a valid pistol permit since 2022, though no prior domestic violence calls had been reported at the residence, leaving many to wonder what unseen pressures led to such a catastrophic breakdown.

Michelle Cote’s long career in corrections and her son’s attempt to protect her paint a picture of a family caught in a moment of irreparable conflict. As investigators work to uncover the full story, the friend who survived the ordeal remains a key witness—and perhaps a reluctant hero—in a tragedy that has left three lives extinguished and a town grappling with grief.