City elections official in Connecticut faces murder charge after police say she fatally shot her neighbor

HARTFORD, Conn. — A Norwalk city official faces a murder charge after she fatally shot her neighbor Thursday, police said.

Ellen Wink, 61, was arrested at the scene and remained in custody early Friday on $1 million bail, they said. She was expected to be arraigned in Superior Court in Stamford later in the day.

Police identified the victim as Kurt Lametta, 54. The house where the homicide took place is owned by Wink.

Wink is a familiar face in city hall, where she is a deputy registrar of voters. She is active politically as well and has run for state representative.

According to police, officers were called to Lametta’s home about 11:50 a.m. for a disturbance that involved him and Wink. When police arrived, they found that Lametta had been shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene by medics.

“Patrol division officers located Wink at the scene and immediately detained her,” Lt. Terrence Blake said. “Norwalk detectives immediately began their investigation, which ultimately led to Wink’s arrest.”

She was arrested about 1 p.m. The circumstances of the deadly shooting weren’t clear Friday.

Wink’s job title with the city is listed as “Election Administrator, Republican Deputy Registrar.” She also is a justice of the peace.

In addition to running elections, her political endorsements have cited her experience in redevelopment, business and with city youth and the elderly. She has been called pro-police.

This isn’t her first arrest.

Norwalk Sgt. Sofia Gulino said Wink was arrested Sept. 18 after she threw out a tenant’s personal items and locked him out of his home. The man told police Wink was upset that he was nearly a month behind on rent.

Wink was charged with first-degree criminal mischief; fourth-degree larceny and criminal lockout, she said.

State judicial records show a 2021 arrest, but the case has been sealed. It is scheduled to be resolved in Superior Court in Norwalk April 22.

Gulino would not release the name of the man who complained to police about Wink, nor would she say if the man who died is the same person.

Lametta was described on Facebook as “super nice” and a “simple good guy” with the “biggest heart.”