Braintree Community Holding Cornhole Tournament Honoring K-9 Kitt

BRAINTREE, MA — Two Braintree businesses and a Massachusetts brewery have teamed up and will organize a cornhole tournament in honor of police K-9 Kitt, who was killed while protecting his handler from a man authorities said wounded two police officers in a shooting near the Braintree Village apartments.

The charity tournament is sponsored by Kay's Cans and Bottles, Southside Tavern and the Rockport Brewing Company and is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 11, at French's Common, next to the town hall at 1 JFK Memorial Drive. All proceeds will be donated to the Braintree Police Officers Support Fund and the Braintree Police Working Dog Foundation.

The event will feature raffles and prizes, a beer garden and a food truck. Rockport Brewing Company will have a special release beer commemorating K-9 Kitt which will be featured at the tournament’s beer garden. Music will be provided by DJ An Sounds.

The event is family-friendly and all are welcome, regardless of if you participate in the tournament. Registration for the tournament can be found on Boston Baggo's Facebook and Instagram pages or by emailing bostonbaggoco@gmail.com.

Kitt's death came on June 4 when his handler Officer William Cushing Jr. and officers Matthew Donaghue and Richard Seibert responded to a domestic violence call involving a gun. Police said they learned the suspect, later identified as Andrew Homen, 34, of Brockton, ran from the apartment, so the officers searched the woods nearby.

After the officers got about 75 yards into the woods, Homen ambushed the officers, according to police. Police said Homen shot both Cushing and Donaghue, leaving them with serious injuries.

As Homen repeatedly fired his gun, Kitt heroically advanced towards the suspect, distracting his attention away from the officers. Kitt was shot while protecting the other officers and succumbed to his injuries.