[Ammi]

A New York college student has been shot dead by a police officer who was responding to reports of an intruder at her home.

Andrea Rebello was being held in a headlock by a masked gunman when officers arrived at her address in Uniondale on Long Island.

A policeman opened fire as Dalton Smith - the man who forced his way into the house - made a motion to fire at the two officers at the scene.

Lieutenant John Azzata, of Nassau County Police Department, said the officer fired eight shots.

"He kept saying, 'I'm going to kill her', and then he pointed the gun at the police officer," Mr Azzata said.

Smith, who was wearing a ski mask, was shot seven times and Miss Rebello once in the head. Both were killed.

It happened early Friday morning, just streets from Hofstra University where the 21-year-old victim was a student.

She shared the rented home off campus with her twin sister Jessica, and another young woman. A young man was also staying at the house at the time.

Smith, 30, reportedly knocked at the address at around 2.15am local time and burst in.

He held the sisters and young man hostage and sent the other woman out to withdraw money from a nearby cashpoint, who instead called police.

Smith told her she had eight minutes to return with cash before he killed one of her friends.

A loaded 9mm handgun was found at the scene, police said.

Miss Rebello was a public relations student at Hofstra University, which issued a statement on its website, saying she had been killed during a "tragic crime".

It said: "Our hearts and minds and our thoughts and prayers are with her family, her friends, and her classmates."

The shooting came just days before the school's graduation ceremonies, which are scheduled to take place on Sunday.

A university spokeswoman said students would be handed white ribbons to wear in memory of Miss Rebello.

Police said Smith had an extensive criminal history and was wanted on a parole violation related to a first-degree robbery conviction

[arista]

"A policeman opened fire as Dalton Smith - the man who forced his way into the house - made a motion to fire at the two officers at the scene."

Tragic these things happen so fast
errors happen

[Z]

That's devastating those who survived will be traumatised for a very long time... her twin sister especially...

[Marcus.]

awwwwwwww lass

[lostalex]

I'm not blaming the victim, but seriously, who opens the door to a stranger that's knocking at 2:15 AM?