On the morning of June 4, the most pressing thing on the mind of optometrist George Tzepos was watching his son graduate from preschool.
That afternoon, the most pressing thing on his mind was a bullet, which had entered his temple and exited above his ear. It was followed by a second bullet.
It was 4:45 in the afternoon in Dr. Tzeposs solo practice in Seymour, Conn. A man who called himself John Steeves had presented with a complaint of sawdust in his eye. But, when the offices assistant Kim Chernecky took the mans information, the man couldnt say if the sawdust was in his right or left eye. Mr. Steeves was also unclear about his phone number and address.
Dr. Tzepos says Ms. Chernecky wondered if the patient had had a stroke, because the man also kept his right hand tucked in his shirt. He says she sent him into the exam room and told Dr. Tzepos he was waiting.
Stepping foot into the exam room, Dr. Tzepos knew something was strange. He recognized John Steeves as optometrist Dennis Kissel, whose solo office is located about 10 miles away in Oxford, Conn.
Dr. Tzepos says he knew Dr. Kissel only in passing, just well enough to say hello. They had no business or personal relationship, he says.
Dennis, Dr. Tzepos said, Is everything OK?
Without saying a word, Dr. Kissel pulled what looked like a revolver, Dr. Tzepos says. Then he fired. The bullet went through Dr. Tzeposs temple to the right of his right eye.
He was shocked, but his mind was clear, focused. Put the gun down, Dennis! he yelled.
Then the second shot came. It entered Dr. Tzeposs scalp, near his hair part, and exited two inches behind. He thought, this guys not here to discuss his eye condition, Dr. Tzepos says dryly. Hes here to kill me.
He lunged for the gun, grabbing Dr. Kissels hand.
Drop your gun! Drop your gun! he yelled.
The gun cut a gash into Dr. Tzeposs hand. It went off a third time, missing Dr. Tzeposs head by inches, leaving a hole in the ceiling.
They struggled, tumbling against the exam chair.
Kim, call 911! Dr. Tzepos yelled. He managed to pry the gun away from Dr. Kissel, then he dashed from the exam room and slammed the door.
Ms. Chernecky grabbed the doorknob, holding the door closed.
Blood was everywhere. Dr. Tzepos saw the blood from his skull land in splotches on the carpet. He felt it on his hands. He didnt know that the bullets had exited or how badly he was hurt.
Dr. Tzepos hurried to his office to call his wife. Ive been shot in the head, he told her. Come down now.
Within minutes, police arrived on the scene. They shouted to Dr. Kissel, demanding that he come out of the exam room without any weapons. There was no answer. The officers made their demand several more times. Silence. They kicked open the door.
Dr. Tzepos couldnt see what happened next, but newspaper accounts say Dr. Kissel made a threatening gesture, evidently pulling a weapon. An officer fired one shot, hitting Dr. Kissel in the chest. He was taken to a nearby hospital and died soon after.
State police spokesperson Sgt. J. Paul Vance says Dr. Kissels motives are unknown and still under investigation, and that Dr. Kissel had no criminal record.
Dr. Tzepos was treated at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He says one of the worst parts of the whole incident was his reaction to the anti-seizure medication he was given while in the hospital. The reaction surfaced 10 days later, lasting five days.
I thought I was dead, he says of the illness. Some of his patients may now think the same thing. Adding insult to injury, one of his insurance panels sent out a letter to his patients saying that he had died in the shooting.
Still, Dr. Tzepos says, Im so happy to be alive that thats overshadowing all the negative things about the incident.
He has since returned to full-time practice.
