CONCORD, N.C. — A man was arrested Saturday morning, days after police said he killed his wife, a Mecklenburg County paramedic.
Police located 53-year-old Patrick O’Sullivan Saturday morning after receiving a tip about a man struggling in the bitter cold.
Concord police said O'Sullivan shot and killed his wife, Rebekah Hart-O’Sullivan, Thursday night inside their home.
Officers received a call around 7:30 p.m. Thursday about shots being fired on Todd Drive Northeast, about a mile south of Interstate 85. When they arrived at the home, police found Hart-O'Sullivan shot to death inside.
Police said O'Sullivan shot her several times during an argument and then fled.
Officials said that around 8:29 a.m. Saturday, the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office received a call to check the area of Flowes Store Road near Piney Church Road for a man that appeared to be "distressed from cold."
Deputies said they found the man and identified him as O’Sullivan. He was arrested without any issues and taken to Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast to be evaluated for cold weather-related medical issues, officials said.
"I don't know why he's walking around on the street like that,” said Brenda Craven, who lives nearby.
Authorities said that a Cabarrus County Sheriff K-9 unit, along with Concord Police investigators, conducted a search of the woods near where O’Sullivan was located and found and seized a weapon.
People are relieved knowing O’Sullivan has been arrested.
"Usually nothing really happens here in Concord, so it's very different and strange, kind of hearing and knowing something like that has happened,” local resident Ashley Neill said.
Multiple agencies were involved in this investigation, including the State Bureau of Investigation and the secret service.
“Why would someone want to do something like that?,” Neill wondered.
Channel 9 learned that Hart-O'Sullivan was an employee of MEDIC in Charlotte.
"This tragic development has had a profound impact on MEDIC and its employees," said Joe Penner, executive director for Mecklenburg EMS Agency. "On behalf of Rebekah's co-workers, our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this time of solace."
Neighbors said the couple has three teenage children.
Hart-O'Sullivan had worked at MEDIC since 2010, and most recently served as a relief operations supervisor.
Johnathan Bobbitt, who helped train Hart-O'Sullivan when she started working at MEDIC eight years ago, said she often talked about her children and her calling to a career of helping others.
“Being in MEDIC for several years, there's a MEDIC family, and those people are hurting today,” Bobbitt said. “Here's a mom with children that dedicated her life to help other people, and her life was taken in such a tragic way. She was murdered.”
Authorities said that the investigation into the murder still is ongoing.
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