Death Ruled Act of Self Defense

The Cape and Islands District Attorney’s office released a statement today from District Attorney Michael O’Keefe stating that the Medical Examiner's Office has found the cause of death regarding Kenneth Bloomquist, 64, of West Tisbury, to be gunshot wounds to the chest.

“Bloomquist sustained these wounds while assaulting his wife with a shotgun,” the statement said.

The ongoing investigation since the has found that “All of the forensics and other evidence support the conclusion of a homicide during an act of self-defense.”

According to the Vineyard Gazette, “Bloomquist’s lawyer, Sean E. Murphy, released a statement saying that Mr. Bloomquist broke into the locked home at 19 Skiffs lane Friday morning and shot Mrs. Bloomquist with a shotgun. He then produced a handgun and attempted to shoot her with it, the statement said, and during a “violent struggle” for the handgun, it discharged, hitting Mr. Bloomquist.”

The statement also said that Bloomquist did not have a firearm of her own in the home. Both were licensed to carry firearms.

On Friday March 23^rd, the was dispatched to 19 Skiffs Lane at 7:48 am for a man pointing a gun at a woman.  The Island’s Tactical Response Team was also requested to respond.

While in route to the scene, the police department was advised that the female was shot and that the man was dying.  Dispatch then advised both parties had been shot.  Two ambulances were called to the scene.

A team of four officers went into the house and found the parties upstairs in the residence.  The woman was transported to the for treatment of a gunshot wound and the male died at the scene.

Mrs. Bloomquist had against her husband on March 1, 2012 and was denied by Judge Robert Kane because she did not meet the requirements and was in no immediate threat of injury.

According to the District Attorney’s office, Bloomquist will not be charged and there will be further action in this matter.