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| Anthony Bruno |
(Scroll down for video) What was supposed to be the start of a happy life for a couple ended in tragedy when a police officer killed the groom.
Kansas City Police were called to an assault between a man and a cab driver.
The police officer responded to a report of a driver being beaten up by a man identified as firefighter Anthony Bruno.
When the officer arrived he saw the man running from the car.
A family member said that the incident began when the groom, Bruno, 26, had left his wedding reception to help a drunk guest get into a cab.
He and the driver got into a dispute over the cab fare.
Bruno and his new wife, were celebrating their nuptials with their family and friends at the Marriott Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.
When the officer caught up with Bruno, the firefighter resisted arrest, and allegedly struck the officer in the head and face.
The officer, who has not been identified, was beaten so badly that he had to be hospitalized for head injuries.
The officer will need surgery to repair his facial injuries, according to police spokesperson Tye Grant.
"The suspect began assaulting the officer, and it got pretty bad," Grant said. "The officer, who feared for his life, fired his weapon, striking the suspect," he said.
The officer fired two fatal shots before collapsing, police said.
The officer was still unconscious when backup arrived.
Bruno was taken to the hospital where he later died from the gunshot wounds.
In a statement, the Fire Department of Kansas City said that Bruno is remembered as a courageous and dedicated firefighter, who had been with the department since 2008.
He was a member of the third generation of firefighters.
Bruno left behind his new wife, his parents and two sisters.