Authorities in Massachusetts have launched an urgent search for a 58-year-old woman who police say may be armed, after an off-duty Worcester police officer was found dead inside her home.
In a public alert, the Worcester Police Department said officers are looking for Karen Solomon “regarding the death of a male at her residence.”
Investigators described Solomon as a 58-year-old White woman with dark brown hair and brown eyes. She was last reported wearing pajama shorts and a tank top and was seen walking in the direction of Westcott Street.
Worcester police are searching for Karen Solomon, 58, and say she may be armed. (Worcester Police Department)
“There is concern she may be armed,” the department warned. Police have not released the man’s name publicly, nor have they disclosed the circumstances or cause of his death.
Officials said the deceased officer had served with the Worcester Police Department for 30 years and was off duty when he was discovered.
The New England Police Benevolent Association identified the officer as Kurt Solomon, a 31-year veteran of the Worcester Police Department.
The NEPBA announced Solomon’s death Tuesday, honoring him as an “incredibly dependable officer, colleague and friend” who spent more than three decades serving the Worcester community.
The association said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Solomon’s death remains active and that authorities are working to locate the individual being sought.
Solomon is survived by his sons, Niklas and Brandon; his mother, Shirley; and his brothers, Karl and Eric, according to the NEPBA.
CBS Boston reported that Massachusetts State Police were searching the area with a helicopter and that a special emergency response team was being brought in to search nearby woods. Fox News has reached out to authorities for confirmation and additional details.
Local reports say state police are assisting in the search for Karen Solomon in Worcester. (Massachusetts State Police)
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Solomon’s home is on Wildwood Avenue, where authorities are conducting the death investigation, according to CBS Boston. The outlet also reported that Solomon said in a 2016 interview that she was married to a Worcester police officer and had made telling the stories of law enforcement a personal mission.
Solomon told WBZ-TV at the time that she was inspired to write “Hearts Beneath The Badge” after her son came home from school and asked why someone had told him that police “kill people for no reason.” Solomon said she wanted to highlight the good deeds officers perform, from buying meals to saving lives and putting themselves in danger for others.
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The Worcester Police Department is searching for 58-year-old Karen Solomon after a man was found dead at her home. (Worcester Police Department)
She later wrote “The Price They Pay,” which focused on what she described as the darker side of policing, including the pain and anxiety officers can experience on the job.
Solomon also developed 1stHelp.Net, a website designed to connect first responders experiencing mental, physical or financial crises with resources. She told WBZ-TV that many officers she interviewed did not know where to seek help or were afraid to do so.
Neighbors told CBS Boston they were stunned by the developments. One resident described the officer as an “awesome guy” who he regularly saw walking around the neighborhood.
Police urged members of the public who spot Solomon not to approach her and to immediately contact authorities.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Worcester Police Department at 508-799-8606 or dial 911 in an emergency.
News Outlet reached out to the Worcester District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police and Worcester Police Department for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
