By Laura Crimaldi and Laurel J. Sweet
The Boston Herald
BOSTON — The frantic wife of a critically wounded Havover father of two — shot at close range, allegedly by his dead brother’s EMT partner - performed life-saving CPR as she desperately pleaded with her beloved not to die.
“I just kept talking to him and telling him I love him and ‘Stay focused,’'' thoracic nurse Heather Brinkman, 33, told her husband, Paul Brinkman, 36, as she compressed his chest above the gaping gunshot wound he suffered just after 7:30 Sunday morning.
Paul Brinkman’s brother John, 42, a Quincy attorney, was also shot, but pleaded with police, “Go help my brother,’' as blood gushed from a bullet hole in his right leg.
All the while, police said the alleged gunman, Rhys Williams, 41, of Dorchester, an EMT with Boston EMS since 2002, stood by with a wad of gauze in his hand he’d retrieved from his medical kit from his Subaru Outback. Cops later found a stack of paper shooting targets and a leather blackjack in the vehicle.
Paul Brinkman, a father of two girls ages 2 years and 9 months, was clinging to life last night. He is a salesman at the Dorchester uniform company UniFirst, and a former correctional officer. Yesterday, Norfolk Sheriff Michael G. Bellotti called him “a trusted friend.’'
Williams was on medical leave from his job and is now charged in Brockton District Court with attempted murder. He is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing tomorrow. Attorney Peter Horstmann said Williams acted “in self-defense.’'
Williams’ former partner Mark Brinkman, 37, of Marshfield died May 22 after falling ill. Saturday night, Williams helped organize an education fund-raiser for Mark Brinkman’s 10-year-old son, Luke, at the Norwood Elks Lodge.
Afterward, two Brinkman family friends, Paul and Rachel Keating, invited a few people to spend the night at their Abington home. Williams told police he gave Paul Brinkman a ride to the Keatings’ home. Williams was allowed in, even though he had not been invited, according to Paul Keating.
Williams admitted to downing three beers and a mixed drink at the lodge, then another five to six beers and three glasses of rum at the Keatings’ house, according to a police report.
Williams told police John Brinkman told him he had a “big (expletive) mouth’’ and advised him to leave. Police said Williams proceeded to sit outside in his car, where a passing jogger he allegedly harassed called the cops.
Williams said he went for coffee, then returned to the Keatings’ house and let himself in through a fence gate to the back yard - a moment Paul Keating described as “terrifying.’'
“I never allow people in the house I don’t know. This guy, no one knew. I let my guard down out of respect for Mark,’' Keating told the Herald.
Williams told police he shot the brothers with a 9 mm Glock he pulled from his glove compartment, but only after they followed and ``threatened’’ him.
“I shot both of them,’' Williams allegedly told police.
In another bizarre twist, Paul and Heather Brinkman are due to go to trial Oct. 13 in Boston Municipal Court on charges they drunkenly fought with, swore at and spit on Boston police and EMTs in the South End on April 11.
Copyright 2009 Boston Herald Inc.