On a tragic day in Palmyra, Maine, the life of 13-year-old male, Anthony Tucker, was cut short. On November 28, 2006, the eighth-grade student was fatally shot in the front yard of his home. His aunt later recounted his final moments as heroic, stating that Anthony was ensuring his mother and sisters got out of the house to safety before he was killed.
He was the last one out of the home, making sure his family was safe before he shut the door behind him.
The man responsible for the shooting was Todd Curry, the 40-year-old live-in boyfriend of Anthony's mother, April Cooley. Curry was subsequently charged with murder. According to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Cooley, the day before the fatal shooting, Curry had assaulted her and chased her with an AK-47 assault rifle. The lawsuit described a home environment where Cooley and her children were subjected to routine threats from Curry. It was alleged that Curry had threatened to kill all three of her children and had specifically threatened Anthony's 10-year-old sister moments before shooting her brother.
Following the incident, Curry pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Psychological evaluations revealed a history of severe mental health issues. Curry suffered from severe bipolar disorder which included psychotic features, leading to paranoid delusions. It was stated that he believed he was saving the world from aliens and that various groups were conspiring against him. A year prior to the shooting, neighbors had sought a protection order against him for shooting guns near their properties. He had also been charged with domestic assault against Cooley earlier that year, a charge to which he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.
In December 2007, a judge found Todd Curry to be legally insane and not criminally responsible for Anthony's death. As a result, instead of a prison sentence, he was committed to the Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta for treatment. Anthony was remembered as a caring older brother and a quiet leader who was well-liked by his peers at Somerset Valley Middle School. He had a love for the outdoors, enjoying activities like hunting, fishing, camping, and snowmobiling. His death was a profound loss felt deeply by his family, friends, and the wider community.
