Simsbury Police: Deaths confirmed to be murder-suicide

By Ted Glanzer

Staff Writer

SIMSBURY - A husband shot and killed his wife in their home on Woodleigh Place in Weatogue on Sunday evening and then killed himself, according to Simsbury police and the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Simsbury Police, in a press release, confirmed that Linda Halligan, 57, had been shot in the head by her husband, Bernard Halligan, 59, inside the home at 6 Woodleigh Place on Sunday evening.

Bernard Halligan then turned the gun on himself.

The shootings took place around 5:20 p.m. on Sunday; the couple’s 18-year-old daughter ran from the home to a neighbor’s house, who then called police.

When police arrived, they discovered a seriously injured Linda Halligan and provided medical treatment to her until she was transported by ambulance to Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, where she died from her injuries.

Simsbury police, with assistance from the North Central Emergency Services team, North Central Crisis Negotiation Team, and the Connecticut State Police, searched the area around the Woodleigh Place home.

Automated messages were sent out to residents to shelter in place during the search for Bernard Halligan.

Bernard Halligan was subsequently discovered dead from self-inflicted wounds inside the garage at 6 Woodleigh Place.

On his LinkedIn profile, Bernard Halligan lists working as an insurance executive.

“The Simsbury Police Department would like to send its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the victims during this difficult time,” police said in a press release.

Police said the investigation is continuing and there is no threat to the public.

Anyone with information is asked to call Simsbury Police at 860-658-3145.