CBS’s “48 Hours: Katrina Brownlee: The Good Cop” examines aspects of domestic violence, grief, grace and empowerment through a case that baffled New York State in 1993. After all , it was a man with a badge, Alex Irvin, who nearly killed Katrina Brownlee when she had the courage to leave him for good about five years after their romantic involvement. So now, if you are curious to know more about him, his life, his crimes and his manipulations, as well as the lawsuits as well as his current status, we are here for you.
Who is Alex Irvin?
It was in 1988 that 18-year-old single mother Katrina Cooke Brownlee first met Rikers Island corrections officer Alex Irvin by pure chance. She struggled to live in the Brevoort housing estates, while he had a home, a stable career, and a gun, meaning Katrina hoped he would protect them once their relationship began. Sadly, that wasn’t the case at all — he actually turned into her abuser, beginning to physically and sexually exploit her soon after they moved in together and welcomed their own daughter into this world.
According to Katrina, Alex was really a “nice partner at first,” but then it was just “five years of rape, torture, locked in closets.” She called 911 several times during that time in hopes of getting help, but claims that every time he showed his badge, officials always backed off. It was like he had power over everything, which is why it took him until 1992 to take his two daughters and part ways with his then-fiancé for good. However, when she returned to their old home to collect clothes on January 9, 1993, he was waiting for revenge.
Almost as soon as a five-month-pregnant Katrina walked in, Alex pointed his service gun at her and said, “This is the day you die, bitch.” He shot her once in the stomach, then again, and again, and again, until she fell and the bullets basically hit everywhere, including her buttocks. The corrections officer emptied his gun twice on his ex in the space of an hour and a half, and after each shot he stopped and said something like “Are you ready to die?” “Is this the day you’re going to die?” and “You know you deserve it, Katrina.”
Where is Alex Irvin now?
The unexpected arrival of a family friend saved Katrina Brownlee’s life on that fateful day, but for Alex Irvin, even his badge couldn’t protect him from it. Along with the eyewitness, bloody crime scene and evidence from his gun, he was apprehended for attempted murder within hours. While awaiting trial in the county jail, the former city official actually called Katrina and said, “That’s what you’re gonna say. [during the proceedings]. you are going to say [them] you got fired ten times. The shocking part, however, is that she thought about doing it because she was still afraid of him.
Thankfully, that was never necessary as the myriad of concrete evidence against him prompted Alex to plead guilty just before his trial began. He was sentenced to five to 15 years behind bars, but was eventually paroled in 2003. That said, he was denied parole at least twice earlier, with the board asking him bluntly how he would have could have been so cruel to go this far. to reload his weapon and continue firing. As for his current whereabouts, Alex has since left New York and it seems he now prefers to stay out of the spotlight.
Read more: Where is Katrina Brownlee now?
