Connecticut State Division of Criminal Justice

Preliminary Report of the Office of Inspector General Regarding Police-Involved Use of Deadly Force in Colchester on April 18, 2024

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The Division of Criminal Justice is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of all criminal matters in the State of Connecticut.

04/08/2020

Tolland State’s Attorney Releases Additional Information Concerning Police-Involved Shooting in Manchester


The State's Attorney's Office for the Judicial District of Tolland, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Unit, continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the use of deadly physical force resulting in the death of Jose Soto on April 2, 2020, in Manchester.

The investigation involves speaking to witnesses and retrieving, documenting and analyzing evidence. At this preliminary stage of the investigation, it appears that four members of the Capitol Region Emergency Service Team (CREST) team fired their weapons. The officers are:

  • Sergeant Shawn Krom, a 12-year member of the Manchester Police Department and member of CREST since 2013;
  • Officer David Williams, a 14 year-member of the Manchester Police Department and member of CREST since 2009;
  • Officer Shane Murphy, a 9-year member of the Wethersfield Police Department and member of CREST since 2014, and;  
  • Officer Matthew Alexander, a 6-year member of the Enfield Police Department and member of CREST since 2016. 

CREST is a regional SWAT team made up of officers from the Coventry, Cromwell, East Windsor, Enfield, Glastonbury, Manchester, Rocky Hill, South Windsor, Vernon, Wethersfield, and the University of Connecticut police departments.

Additionally, at this early stage of the investigation, while it has been determined that none of the officers on CREST wear body cameras, one or more of the Manchester Police Department vehicles at the scene of the incident were equipped with a dashboard camera that may or may not have captured part of this incident. Video has been preserved and is being examined to see if it captured any part of this incident and will released at the earliest opportunity.

Mr. Soto was fatally wounded after officers from the state Department of Correction, Parole Division, assisted by Manchester police, went to 181 Oak Street in Manchester to take him into custody for a violation of parole stemming from his conviction for Robbery in the First Degree.

Pursuant to state law, Tolland State’s Attorney Matthew C. Gedansky was assigned to conduct the investigation and determine if the use of force resulting in Soto’s death was justified under state law. State’s Attorney Gedansky again extends his condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Soto on their loss. Additional information concerning this investigation will be released as appropriate.