Report of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Tolland Concerning the Use of Deadly Physical Force Resulting in the Death of Alphonso Zaporta on July 26, 2019
Introduction | Scene Survey | Body worn Camera Review | Evidence Recovered | Hartford Police Radio Transmissions | Traffic Camera Videos | Forensic Laboratory Results | Autopsy/Toxicology Results | Firearms | Officer/Detective Reports | On-Scene Witness Statements | Other Relevant Witness Statements | Miscellaneous | Law Regarding the Use of Deadly Force by Police Officers | Findings and Conclusion | Appendix
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The following is a report concerning the tragic death of Alphonso Zaporta on July 26, 2019.
Initially, I would like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Zaporta. Over the course of this investigation, I have gotten to know his family. He was a nephew, a father, a cousin, a son, a brother, and a husband. And he will be missed by his family.
I would also like to acknowledge the high level of cooperation shown by the Connecticut State Police, Eastern District Major Crime Squad (CSP EDMC) and the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Tolland. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate enough to work with CSP EDMC on many significant investigations and prosecutions. Their work ethic is unparalleled, their work product is excellent, and our two offices have always worked together extraordinarily well to produce exceptional investigations and prosecutions when required. This case is no exception.
Additionally, the Command staff of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection provided access to and gave us (CSP EDMC and myself) priority at the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services (Forensic Science Laboratory). This priority access, and the exemplary work by the staff at the Forensic Science Laboratory, proved to be critical in not only examining important evidence, but also in being able to provide information to the public as soon as possible. I would not have been able to release information about this case to the public as soon as I did (July 29, 2019) without their assistance.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner provided valuable assistance in this case as well. As with all investigations into untimely deaths, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner provided essential investigative information that was necessary for the conclusion of this investigation.
The Hartford Police Department (HPD) was extremely cooperative in this investigation. All requests for information, reports, body camera video, radio transmission recordings, and other evidence were quickly complied with. HPD and the City of Hartford, in particular Mayor Luke Bronin, were extremely helpful in assisting me in releasing information about this case to the public as soon we did.
Supervisory Inspector Emory Hightower, Inspector John Betz, and Inspector Joseph Buyak of the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford responded to the location of the incident, and provided invaluable assistance in helping to secure the scene, secure valuable evidence, and ensure witnesses were available to be interviewed. I could not have completed this investigation without their assistance.
Inspector P.J. Clark of the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Tolland responded to the location of this incident with me, worked next to me through the night and the weekend, and provided his usual exceptional insight and assistance throughout this investigation.
Finally, in terms of introduction, this report is written pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 51-277a. Connecticut General Statutes § 51-277a(a) provides that:
Whenever a police officer, in the performance of his duties, uses physical force upon another person and such person dies as a result thereof, the Division of Criminal Justice shall cause an investigation to be made and shall have the responsibility of determining whether the use of deadly physical force by the peace officer was appropriate under 53a-22.
Shortly after the incident, on July 26, 2019, at approximately 10:00 p.m., then-Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane notified me about the incident and asked me, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes §51-277a(b)(1), to conduct this investigation on behalf of the Division of Criminal Justice. I responded to the scene with Inspector Clark. We arrived at approximately 10:30 p.m. The Division of Criminal Justice requested, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes §51-277a(a), that the CSP EDMC assist in this investigation. Personnel from that unit had already arrived prior to our arrival on the scene.
The investigation in this case is concluded, and this report is filed pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 51-277a(c).
Based upon a review of the scene of the incident, the investigative reports, witness statements, video evidence, audio evidence, and laboratory reports and analysis, I make the following factual conclusions:
On July 26, 2019, at approximately 8:50 p.m., three members of the Hartford Police Department (HPD) Street Crimes Unit, Officer Hebert, Officer Last, and Officer Prignano were on patrol in a HPD Chevrolet Impala in the area of Lawrence Street and Russ Street. This vehicle is an unmarked HPD vehicle, but it is equipped with HPD communication, computer, emergency lights and emergency sirens. Officer Last was driving, Officer Prignano was in the front passenger seat, and Officer Hebert was in the rear seat. The officers thought they saw a male who looked like a wanted person, Alphonso Zaporta (Date of Birth September 25, 1977), but lost sight of him.
A short time after 8:50 p.m. on July 26, 2019, Officer Prignano stated that he saw a black Nissan Maxima drive out of a driveway onto Lawrence Street at a high rate of speed. Officer Hebert stated that he observed a dark colored sedan traveling south on Lawrence Street. This area is a well-known area to police where stolen vehicles are parked in a parking lot that is not visible to the street. The dark colored sedan accelerated toward Park Street and then turned right onto Park Street without signaling. Officer Last stated he began to catch up to the vehicle in order to obtain a registration plate number. Officer Last stated he continued to follow the vehicle and observed it turn right onto Putnam Street, left onto Putnam Heights and then, again without signaling, right onto Park Terrace. Officer Prignano stated he was able to obtain the marker plate number on the sedan (AA23846) and conduct a NCIC file check. The officers learned that the vehicle was a Nissan Maxima and the registered owner was a female with the last name of Zaporta, residing in Windsor. Officer Hebert inquired over the radio to other officers and detectives to confirm if HPD was still looking for Alphonso Zaporta.
The officers were aware of several active warrants for Mr. Zaporta’s arrest. Additionally, he was a suspect in a shooting incident on July 9, 2019, on Lawrence Street in Hartford. He was suspected to be in possession of a firearm.
- Previously, on July 9, 2019, at approximately 3:29 p.m., HPD Officer Harlow was dispatched to the Broad Street area for a ShotSpotter activation (#222033) for nine rounds.Officer Harlow reported that he checked that area for victims and possible suspects with negative results.However, seven shell casings were found in the area of Lawrence Street and Russ Street. These shell casings were recovered.
- An anonymous witness reported that they observed a newer model, four door, red vehicle fleeing south on Babcock Street and shots had come from that vehicle.
- On July 9, 2019, at approximately 4:43 p.m., HPD Officer Barron was assigned a walk-in complaint regarding a shooting which occurred in the area of Lawrence Street. Officer Barron reported that an individual stated he was the intended target of a shooting at 178 Lawrence Street. This person said he called his friend Maribel Quinones and was told that the shooter was her ex-boyfriend, Alphonso Zaporta. Officer Harlow reported that seven shell casings were located in the area of 180 Lawrence Street, which was consistent with to what this person reported to Officer Barron. This person also stated Zaporta was known to drive a red 2019 Kia Forte with CT registration 6ARHT2.
- Also, on July 9, 2019, HPD Officer Gonzalez stated that he met an individual who stated to Officer Gonzalez that someone named Alphonso Zaporta intended to shoot and kill him for being in a relationship with Zaporta’s mother. After multiple conversations and several shots fired incidents on Lawrence Street, the individual’s statements had become increasingly credible.
- During the week of July 21, 2019, the same individual contacted Officer Gonzalez numerous times as tensions were escalating quickly. It was reported to Officer Gonzalez that Zaporta made threats that he was going to kill this individual, Zaporta’s ex-girlfriend and the child they share. It was also reported that Zaporta drove to the Lawrence Street neighborhood, brandished a firearm, and stated that he was looking for the individual whom Officer Gonzalez was in communication with.
- On Thursday, July 25, 2019, Officer Gonzalez stated he received a phone call from the individual who reported that Zaporta was recently observed on Lawrence Street while operating a mini-van with a different color fender and in possession of a firearm. After hearing the information, Officer Gonzalez met with Detective Sherry of the Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Unit and Sgt. Mello, who were coincidently conducting an interview at the police substation at 134 Affleck Street. Officer Gonzalez relayed the information to both Detective Sherry and Sgt. Mello. Officer Gonzalez explained that this information, and all other past information he received, was actively shared to all facets of the police department, including Vice and Narcotics, Intelligence, Street Crimes Division, Violent Crimes Unit and area Community Service Officers.
Additionally, there were two separate warrants for Alphonso Zaporta’s arrest for two separate unrelated incidents.
On July 26, 2019, Officer Last stated that he continued to follow the Nissan Maxima and observed that the vehicle put on its hazard lights and pulled over to the east curb in front of 10 Park Terrace. Officer Last stated that he pulled behind the Maxima turning on his emergency lights and siren and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. It was at this point that the vehicle accelerated and fled northbound on Park Terrace and then east on Capitol Ave at a high rate of speed. Officer Last stated that he followed the Maxima without his lights and siren because of the reckless operation of the Maxima that sped away from the traffic stop. Officer Last stated he could see the Maxima in the distance because it had its hazard lights activated and that he observed the vehicle turn onto the Interstate 84 westbound on-ramp at Capitol Avenue. Officer Last stated that he then entered the highway entrance ramp from Capitol Avenue for Interstate 84 westbound, reactivated his vehicle’s emergency lights and siren and saw the Maxima in heavy congested traffic and unable to drive further due to highway construction. This was determined to be a State of Connecticut Department of Transportation private contractor (Middlesex Corporation) safety vehicle blocking all lanes to the highway entrance ramp. Officer Last stated that while on the ramp he stopped the police vehicle and Officer Hebert and Officer Prignano exited the vehicle and approached the Maxima on foot.
As the Maxima turned onto the Interstate 84 Capitol Avenue on-ramp, Sandra Bertrand, explained in a signed, sworn statement that she was driving her vehicle on the ramp when she noticed a construction truck parked at a 45-degree angle, which blocked the ramp so that she could not get through. Ms. Bertrand explained that she stopped and shortly thereafter, a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed came up on her driver side. Ms. Bertrand explained that the driver began to back up and accelerate forward at a high rate of speed and side-swiped her vehicle twice. Ms. Bertrand explained that she began to see numerous red and blue flashing lights around her vehicle. A subsequent vehicle survey of Ms. Bertrand’s vehicle noted that it had fresh damage, including the entire left side (driver’s side) with fresh paint transfer and a broken driver’s side mirror. (There was corresponding damage noted on the Maxima when it was examined later.)
During this same time period, Detective Sherry was working with Detective Perez in a HPD/U.S. Marshal unmarked police vehicle traveling east on Interstate 84 when they heard Officer Hebert broadcast a radio transmission that officers attempted to stop a vehicle registered to a party with the last name of Zaporta. Detectives Sherry and Perez were traveling in an unmarked vehicle, leased by the U.S. Marshal Services, and equipped with HPD communication, emergency lights and sirens. Detective Sherry indicated that further police radio transmissions stated the vehicle fled east on Capitol Avenue at a high rate of speed and that Alphonso Zaporta had active outstanding arrest warrants. Detective Sherry notified all involved that Alphonso Zaporta might be in possession of a firearm. Recordings of the HPD radio transmissions confirm that Officer Hebert continued to broadcast that officers were following the vehicle and that it turned on the Capitol Avenue on-ramp to Interstate 84. Detective Sherry stated he heard over the police radio that the vehicle was stopped in traffic on the on ramp. Detective Sherry stated that he exited the highway and drove to the end of the ramp and immediately got back on to the westbound on-ramp with his emergency lights and siren activated.
Officer Hebert and Officer Prignano stated that they approached the Maxima. Both officers were wearing dark shirts, with the words “POLICE” written in large gold letters on the front and back. Both officers were also equipped with body worn cameras (BWC). Officer Last, after parking the HPD Chevrolet Impala, exited and approached the Maxima. Officer Last was wearing a dark shirt with the words “POLICE” written in large gold letters on the front and back. Officer Last was also equipped with a body worn camera (BWC).
The Maxima was still being operated in an aggressive manner, maneuvering around stopped vehicles, striking Ms. Bertrand’s vehicle and the Middlesex Corp. safety vehicle blocking all lanes. Officer Hebert stated that he deployed a Stop Stick device to deflate the tires on the Maxima. The Maxima continued to be driven recklessly, almost hitting Officer Hebert. The Maxima finally came to a stop when it could proceed no further due the safety vehicle blocking all traffic.
Officer Hebert indicated that he approached the driver’s side of the Maxima, he observed the driver’s door window up going. And as he (Officer Hebert) was reaching for the door, the door swung open. The operator, later identified as Alphonso Zaporta, lunged towards Officer Hebert and aggressively started to fight him. Officer Hebert stated that he feared that the man could possibly be retrieving a weapon from inside the vehicle. Officer Hebert stated that he immediately went to open the driver’s side front door to see inside the vehicle as well as the operator’s actions, with his department issued firearm drawn and pointed towards the vehicle. As Officer Hebert reached for the door handle, the door swung open and the operator leapt from the vehicle and lunged towards Officer Hebert. Officer Hebert stated that as Mr. Zaporta lunged towards him, Mr. Zaporta grabbed the top portion of his firearm with both hands, trying to pull it from him. Officer Hebert stated that he placed his left hand, which was reaching for the door, back onto his firearm and was able to violently pull it downward and away from Mr. Zaporta’s grasp. Officer Hebert stated that Mr. Zaporta then wrapped his arms around him and Officer Hebert struck Mr. Zaporta one time in the left side of his head with his firearm, which was still un-holstered and in his right hand. Officer Hebert then stated that Officer Last came over and wrapped Mr. Zaporta up and forced Mr. Zaporta away from him. Officer Hebert stated that he immediately holstered his firearm and observed Officer Last struggling with Mr. Zaporta in a confined area close to the driver’s door jamb area. Officer Hebert stated that it appeared that Mr. Zaporta was trying to reach towards the center console area. Officer Hebert stated that, again fearing Mr. Zaporta was attempting to retrieve a weapon, he struck Mr. Zaporta with his police baton on his right arm two to three times, which appeared to be completely ineffective.
Officer Hebert stated that he observed Detective Sherry attempt to assist Officer Last by pulling Mr. Zaporta from the vehicle. Officer Hebert stated that he heard Officer Last yell, “He’s got my gun!” “He’s got my gun!” Officer Hebert then stated that Detective Sherry had a hold on Zaporta’s arm and was trying to pull him from the vehicle. Officer Last and Mr. Zaporta were mostly inside the vehicle in the driver’s seat. Officer Hebert stated that he tried to strike Mr. Zaporta two to three additional times with his police baton, again apparently without effect. Officer Hebert stated that he then ran to the passenger side of the Nissan, due to Officer Last and Mr. Zaporta being in the car and the fact that Mr. Zaporta had possession of Officer Last’s department issued firearm. Officer Hebert stated that he drew his firearm and warned Mr. Zaporta he was going to be shot. Officer Hebert stated that Mr. Zaporta was then pulled from the vehicle. This seen on BWC video with Officer Last, Officer Prignano, and Detective Sherry involved. Officer Hebert said that he heard three to four rounds fired. Officer Hebert went back around to the driver’s side of the vehicle and observed Mr. Zaporta lying flat on the ground. Officer Last’s firearm was up towards Mr. Zaporta’s head area, where his hands were extended towards the firearm. Officer Hebert said that Officer Last took possession of his firearm.
Officer Prignano stated that he approached the passenger side of the Maxima as he saw a passenger exit the passenger side of the vehicle. Officer Prignano instructed the passenger to lay on the ground and he held the passenger’s hands behind his back. The passenger, later identified as Marquis Treadwell, said “it’s not me, it’s him,” the driver “wants to die,” and “I don’t want to die.” Officer Prignano stated that he heard officers yelling verbal commands to the operator who appeared to be physically resisting. HPD Detective Jose Perez arrived and placed handcuffs on the passenger, Mr. Treadwell. Officer Prignano explained that he heard Officer Last yell “gun.” Officer Prignano explained he ran to the driver’s side of the vehicle and observed Officer Last struggling in the driver’s seat with Mr. Zaporta, as Officer Hebert attempted to gain control of Mr. Zaporta from outside. Mr. Zaporta had both legs outside of the vehicle and was leaning inside the vehicle tangled with Officer Last who continued to yell that Mr. Zaporta had a gun or that he was attempting to get a gun. Officer Prignano explained that he could not hear him clearly. Officer Prignano grabbed the back of Mr. Zaporta’s pant legs and lifted his legs up in the air. Officer Prignano stated that he started to pull Mr. Zaporta out of the vehicle and away from Officer Last but it seemed that Mr. Zaporta was holding onto something so it took several pulls. Mr. Zaporta fell outside of the vehicle onto the ground which was when Officer Prignano stated that he saw a gun in Mr. Zaporta's hands. Officer Prignano explained that it appeared that Zaporta had two hands on the firearm when he was pulled out of the vehicle. As Officer Prignano pulled Zaporta he stated that he heard three gunshots and saw that Zaporta had been wounded in the head and immediately appeared to be unresponsive. Later, Officer Prignano explained he spoke to the passenger, Mr. Treadwell, and asked him how he knew Mr. Zaporta, and Mr. Treadwell stated that he only knew his nickname, “Park Street.” The passenger continued to say said that Mr. Zaporta stated to him that he was “ready to die” and asked him if he was “ready to die” and he replied “no.” Mr. Treadwell stated that he told Mr. Zaporta that he wanted to get out of the vehicle, so he surrendered as soon as he had the opportunity to.
Officer Last stated that he approached the driver’s side of the Maxima and saw that Officer Hebert was engaged in a violent struggle with the driver, and grabbed onto the driver around his neck with his right arm, while trying to utilize his radio in his left hand. Officer Last indicated at one point during the struggle he felt Mr. Zaporta’s hand go down to Officer Last’s waistband and he felt a tug on his hip. Officer Last indicated that he reached down to his right hip and realized his firearm and his holster were not there. Officer Last indicated that he yelled “he’s got my gun, he’s got my gun.” Officer Last stated that, using his right hand, he pushed down on the top of Mr. Zaporta’s right hand, pinning the firearm between his hand and the driver’s seat. Officer Last indicated that at this point, Mr. Zaporta’s body was facing down (his chest facing towards the driver’s seat). Officer Last explained that his chest was on the back of Mr. Zaporta’s pushing down to keep him from moving within the vehicle. Officer Last indicated that as he struggled to keep Mr. Zaporta from getting full control of his firearm, Mr. Zaporta reached into the center console with his left hand, between the drivers’ seat and the passenger seat, and appeared to be searching for another weapon or something else with which to do harm. Officer Last said that he continued to fight with Mr. Zaporta and grabbed onto his left wrist with Officer Last's left hand. Officer Last stated that when he was able to gain control of Mr. Zaporta’s left hand, Mr. Zaporta then took his left hand and went down towards Officer Last's firearm that was still on the front seat. At this point, Officer Last recalled moving out of the vehicle and no longer having his hand on his firearm. Officer Last stated that he was just outside the driver’s door standing and he saw Mr. Zaporta with his firearm in his right hand. Officer Last stated that Mr. Zaporta was pointing the firearm directly at him. At the same time Mr. Zaporta appeared to be moving upward and forward in his direction. Officer Last stated that he feared that he was going to be seriously physically injured or killed. Officer Last stated that began moving toward the rear of the Department of Transportation truck to avoid a discharge of the firearm. As Officer Last moved to avoid being shot by Mr. Zaporta, he stated that he yelled, “He’s got my gun! Shoot him!” From what Officer Last recollected he heard two to three gunshots at that very moment. Officer Last stated that he did not know who had fired the shots. After hearing the shots, Officer Last stated that observed Mr. Zaporta lying prone on the ground. Officer Last stated that he then heard Detective Sherry yelling, “Get the gun!” and he was pointing to the firearm on the ground by Mr. Zaporta’s hand. Officer Last ran over to Mr. Zaporta and saw his firearm approximately six inches from his right hand. Officer Last stated that he grabbed his firearm and secured it in the front right pocket of his jeans. Subsequent analysis at the Forensic Science Laboratory determined that swabbings to obtain Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) profiles from different areas of Officer Last’s firearm contained a mixture of multiple contributors with at least one of them being male, and assuming multiple contributors, the DNA profile from Officer Last’s firearm was at least 100 billion times more likely to occur if it originated from Alphonso Zaporta and unknown individual(s) than if it originated from all unknown individuals. (See Forensic Science Laboratory section for complete results.)
Detective Sherry stated that he heard over the police radio that Officer Hebert was almost struck by the Maxima. Detective Sherry stated that he parked his vehicle approximately 50 feet from the Maxima and ran directly to the driver’s side of the vehicle to assist the other officers in taking a male, later identified as Mr. Zaporta, into custody. As Detective Sherry approached the scene, he stated that he saw that Officer Hebert and Officer Last in a physical altercation with Mr. Zaporta, next to the Maxima on the on-ramp. Detective Sherry stated that he observed Mr. Zaporta seated in the driver’s seat with his feet outside the vehicle and Officer Last had him in a headlock. Detective Sherry stated that he grabbed Mr. Zaporta’s right arm and attempted to pull him out of the vehicle but he stated that he was unable to do so because Mr. Zaporta was violently resisting. Detective Sherry explained that he lost his grip on Mr. Zaporta’s arm and Mr. Zaporta was able to pull himself and Officer Last into the vehicle. Once they were both inside, Detective Sherry stated he heard Officer Last yell twice, “he has my gun, he has my gun.” Detective Sherry stated that he yelled back to Officer Last, “Rocky, does he have your gun?” Detective Sherry then stated that he saw Officer Prignano had grabbed both of Mr. Zaporta’s legs and pulled him out of the vehicle. When Mr. Zaporta was pulled from the vehicle Detective Sherry said that he clearly observed that Mr. Zaporta had a firearm clutched in his hands. Detective Sherry said that it appeared that Mr. Zaporta was pointing or aiming the firearm directly towards Officer Last. Mr. Zaporta was facing away from Detective Sherry and landed on his elbows/forearms. Detective Sherry said that he was in fear for his life and the lives the other officers and civilians in the immediate area. Detective Sherry said he drew his firearm and fired three rounds in the direction of Mr. Zaporta, and Mr. Zaporta immediately dropped the firearm.
Detective Sherry said that he immediately yelled to Officer Last to retrieve the firearm and then he pulled Officer Prignano away from Mr. Zaporta because at this point he was not sure if he was still a danger. Detective Sherry stated that he then requested that one of the officers secure Mr. Zaporta into handcuffs. Once Mr. Zaporta was secured, Detective Sherry stated that he requested an ambulance, “code three,” which is for an “urgent” response by emergency medical personnel. Detective Sherry then yelled to the construction workers, who were just in front of the construction vehicles, to move the impeding traffic so that an ambulance could get to Mr. Zaporta.
After the shooting, Officer Hebert stated he observed a large hole in Mr. Zaporta’s forehead and near his neck area and that there did not appear to be any rise or fall from his chest. Through his training and experience as a State of Connecticut Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Officer Hebert knew these injuries to not be compatible with life. An ambulance was immediately requested on scene, as well as a supervisor and additional police units.
Emergency Medical Services (American Medical Response/ AMR) responded to the scene and determined that Mr. Zaporta was deceased. The pronouncement of death was made at 9:27 p.m. The officers and detectives involved in the incident were taken from the scene where evidence was secured and photographs taken by Hartford Police and Connecticut State Police who responded to the scene.
Found on the driver’s side floorboard of the Maxima that Mr. Zaporta was driving was a Smith & Wesson SW9VE 9mm handgun with black frame and grey slide with serial number RBF6116 to include a magazine with sixteen rounds of ammunition.
Based on the survey of the scene by CSP EDMC Detectives, and my observations at the scene, the following was observed, among other things:
The scene was an outdoor scene that had been secured with yellow crime scene tape and uniformed HPD and CSP personnel along with HPD and CSP vehicles/cruisers.
HPD Officer C. Ramos and HPD Officer M. Maldonado kept a crime scene log of the CSP and HPD personnel who entered the scene. Additional, HPD personnel were assigned to shut down the on-ramp to prevent traffic from entering the scene and the surrounding area was cordoned off with yellow crime scene police tape to divert pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The weather during the evening hours was clear and warm. The temperature was approximately 68 degrees. The shooting occurred on the Capitol Avenue on-ramp to westbound Interstate 84. This on-ramp merges with the Asylum Street on-ramp which then merge into one ramp onto the limited access highway. Above the Capitol Avenue on-ramp are the Broad Street overpass and the I-84 eastbound overpass. The pavement is blacktop with white and yellow shoulder lines and concrete jersey barriers on each side. There is vegetation outside the jersey barriers.
There was one 2013 Chevy Impala registered to the HPD parked in the center of the Capitol Avenue on-ramp. A HPD/U.S. Marshal silver 2018 Ford F-150 was parked in the center of the Asylum Street merge lane ahead of the Impala. A black 2017 Hyundai Elantra registered to Sandra Bertrand was parked in the center of the single lane to the left of the Ford F-150. The Elantra had what appeared to be fresh damage to the driver's side front quarter panel, front driver's side door and rear quarter panel. Parked in front of the F-150 was a dark colored 2010 Nissan Maxima registered to Cecilia Zaporta-Hayward with the front driver's side door and front passenger side door open. The decedent, Alphonso C. Zaporta, was lying on the ground behind the Maxima. A marked Hartford Police SUV was parked in front of the Maxima, parked across the on-ramp (this vehicle arrived after the incident was over). Ahead of the Hartford Police SUV was a Middlesex Corporation crash truck with an illuminated right arrow sign and a traffic attenuator mounted to the rear of the truck. Parked ahead of the crash truck was a blue and white Man lift that was parked off the right shoulder. Orange traffic cones were also located in the scene along the right and left shoulder of the on-ramp.
The decedent's body was located on the ground to the rear driver’s side of the Maxima. The decedent was in handcuffs with his hands behind his back. Fingerprints taken electronically at the scene identified the deceased as Alphonso Zaporta. The decedent was fully clothed with a shirt, pants and dark colored sneakers. There was a blood-like substance near and around his upper torso and head. A set of car keys with a blood-like substance was found on his right side. A cell phone, baseball hat and pack of cigarettes were found on the pavement located near the driver's side of the Maxima. Shell casings and bullet fragments could be seen around the decedent on the pavement. The decedent's lower legs were laying across a white dividing line located on the pavement. A blood-like substance was on the decedent’s arms and it appeared he had injuries to his head consistent with gunshots wounds.
During the course of the investigation, the Officer Body Warn Camera (BWC) video footage was turned over to CSP EDMC by HPD. The original BWC footage was logged into evidence as (Evidence item #1). Officer Hebert, Officer Last and Officer Prignano had turned on their BWC during this incident. At the time that the officers’ BWC footage was turned over to the CSP EDMC, HPD indicated that the time stamp on each of the camera footage recordings were not correct. Additionally, HPD indicated that there was a one minute recall feature on HPD BWC video; once a recording began, the video would recall one minute prior, but without audio. Therefore, audio would not begin until one minute into the video.
Below is a summary of the BWC footage and not a frame by frame description.
Summary of relevant BWC footage:
No sound recorded at the start of the video
1:13:03 Officer Hebert seated in the back passenger seat of police vehicle with hand-held police radio illuminated
1:13:23 Officer Hebert exits vehicle passenger side rear door
1:13:30 Officer Hebert approaches dark colored vehicle and vehicle is going in reverse possible striking another vehicle
1:13:33 Officer Hebert goes in front of dark colored vehicle and vehicle pulls forward away from Officer Hebert
1:13:35 Officer Hebert has something in his right hand as vehicle drives through traffic, Officer Hebert still on foot.
1:13:38 Officer Hebert retrieves (spike strips) from the roadway
1:13:42 Officer Hebert points handgun at driver and illuminates the driver, (A. Zaporta) with a flashlight
1:13:42 Mr. Zaporta exits vehicle pushing driver’s side door open with left hand/arm
1:13:43 Mr. Zaporta exits vehicle lunging toward Officer Hebert
1:13:43 Mr. Zaporta lunges at Officer Hebert
1:13:46 Mr. Zaporta and Officer Hebert start to fight with each other
1:13:47 Officer Hebert has handgun in right hand with mounted flash light and fighting with Mr. Zaporta
1:13:48 Officer Hebert and Mr. Zaporta are fighting between dark colored vehicle and DOT crash truck bumper
1:13:49 Second officer, Officer Last seen placing Mr. Zaporta in a headlock type hold and both Mr. Zaporta and Officer Last have their backs to the interior of the dark colored vehicle
1:13:53 Police baton in the frame but did not appear to strike Mr. Zaporta
1:14:01 Detective Sherry in the footage pulling on Mr. Zaporta’s arm, Officer Last still holding onto Mr. Zaporta
1:14:02 Sound starts recording, sirens/car alarms in background
1:14:05 Unknown Officer (Officer Last) saying, “He’s got my gun, he’s got my gun” Detective Sherry still pulling on Mr. Zaporta along with Officer Last
1:14.10 Detective Sherry still holding onto Mr. Zaporta’s arm and standing near the rear driver’s side door which is closed
1:14:12 Officer Last heard saying “he’s got my gun”
1:14:15 Officer Hebert goes to the passenger side of the Nissan Maxima with baton out, opens front passenger side door with police baton still visible
1:14:17 Air-brakes from DOT vehicle in background
1:14.21 Officer Hebert is heard saying, “You are going to get shot bro”
1:14.22 Sound of three quick gunshots
1:14:23 Unknown Officer is heard calling out “shots fired, shots fired” “shots fired”
1:14:27 Officer Hebert still on the passenger of the dark colored vehicle
1:14:30 Detective Sherry heard saying “Hey, who’s got the gun?” Detective Sherry holstering his sidearm
1:14:32 Unknown Officer is heard saying, “shots fired, shots fired”
The shooting of the suspect is not captured visually on this footage.
Summary of relevant BWC footage:
No sound recorded at the start of the video
1:13:14 Officer Prignano’s appears to be seated in the front driver’s side seat of the police vehicle with computer monitor in front of him
1:13:24 Officer Prignano steps out of the passenger side door of the police vehicle
1:13:30 Officer Prignano heads towards scene and black colored vehicle traveling in reverse back toward traffic
1:13:35 Officer Prignano has something in his hand and dark colored vehicle accelerates forward away from him
1:13:41 Officer Prignano runs behind the dark colored vehicle as the vehicle is traveling away from him. Officer Prignano crosses the street and approaches a male wearing a white shirt and shorts standing on the right side of the road (Marquis Treadwell). Mr. Treadwell had exited the front passenger side door of the dark color vehicle
1:13:41 Officer Prignano approaches Mr. Treadwell and has him lie on the ground face/down with his hands behind his back
1:13:45 Officer Prignano BWC shows the Nissan Maxima with the front passenger side door open with no one seated inside the front passenger seat
1:13:51 Officer Prignano leaves Mr. Treadwell on the ground and appears to run around the rear of the Nissan Maxima toward the driver’s side front door area
1:13:55 Officer Prignano returns to Mr. Treadwell on the ground along with Detective Perez
1:13:59 Officer Prignano and Detective Perez secure Mr. Treadwell on the ground on the passenger side of the vehicle in handcuffs
1:14:02 Sound on BWC starts recording with sirens and vehicle alarms being heard the background
1:14:05 Officer Last is heard saying, “He’s got my gun, he’s got my gun.” Officer Prignano is near the passenger side of the dark color vehicle
1:14:09 Officer Prignano appears to have his duty weapon in his hands
1:14:11 Officer Prignano returns to the driver’s side of the vehicle
1:14:14 Officer Prignano joins other officers in attempting to remove Mr. Zaporta from the vehicle
1:14:21 Officer Prignano is seen pulling the lower legs/pant leg of Mr. Zaporta out of the vehicle
1:14:22 Officer Prignano is pulling on the lower legs/pant legs of Mr. Zaporta and it appears that Mr. Zaporta is face down on his stomach holding an object in his right hand
1:14:23 Three gunshots are heard, firearm appears to be on the ground near the driver’s right hand and Officer Prignano lets go of the lower leg/pant leg of Mr. Zaporta
1:14:29 Detective Sherry heard saying “Hey, who’s got the gun?”
The shooting of the subject is observed in this BWC footage.
Officer Last’s BWC, was marked “Officer Last mp4 2019-07-27 1:13 :16Z Axon Body 2 X81325141
Summary of relevant BWC footage:
No sound recorded at the start of the video
1:13:17 Start of recording, Officer Last in the driver’s seat of police vehicle
1:13:25 Officer Last seated in vehicle, unknown officers are outside vehicle and can been seen through front window
1:13:32 Officer Last moves vehicle and then puts vehicle in park
1:13:33 Officer Last exits vehicle
1:13:35 Officer Last closes door to police vehicle
1:13:39 Officer Last is approaching the scene with portable radio in hand, appears to be on the left side of the road
1:13:43 Officer Last is approaching vehicle on the driver’s side with handgun in right hand, Officer Hebert is seen approaching driver’s side door and the door opens and Mr. Zaporta lunges at Officer Hebert.
1:13:44 Mr. Zaporta exits vehicle and starts fighting with officer who appears to have his handgun in his right hand
1:13:48 Officer Last starts to fight with Mr. Zaporta
1:13:50 Officer Last has a handheld radio in his left hand
1:13:52 Officer Last appears to be partially in the driver’s side area facing out
1:14:08 Something blocking BWC view, Officer Last fighting with Mr. Zaporta
1:14:15 Sound starts recording
1:14:19 Unknown person says, “gun”
1:14:21 Unknown person says, “watch out, watch out, watch out”
1:14:21 Unknown Officer comes into view of the BWC
1:14:21 Mr. Zaporta is seen lying on the ground facing back toward his vehicle with the driver’s side door open
1:14:22 Officer Prignano pulling the legs of the driver, then three gunshots are heard
1:14:30 Mr. Zaporta seen on the ground with hands out straight with firearm near his hands on the ground
1:14:30 Detective Sherry pointing to the ground and heard saying “Hey, who’s got the gun?”
1:14:31 Officer Last picks up firearm from ground that was near Mr. Zaporta’s hands
The shooting of the suspect is not captured visually on this BWC footage.
During the course of the investigation, items of evidence were seized from the scene, HPD, the officers/detectives involved, and OCME.
Detective Sherry was transported to St. Francis Hospital per HPD policies and procedures. During this time, CSP EDMC Detectives seized Detective Sherry’s firearm and other HPD property, which included:
(1) Empty Glock .40-caliber magazine from a Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol with serial #BKEN469;
(2) Ten (10) rounds of Winchester .40 S&W ammunition from a Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol with serial # BKEN469;
(3) One (1) round of Winchester .40 S&W ammunition from a Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol with serial # BKEN469; and
(4) one (1) Glock 23 .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol with serial # BKEN469, black in color, with XIPHOSNIx Night ops light.
Other items of evidence were secured as part of this investigation and among the items seized were:
(Evidence #2) One (1) Smith & Wesson SW9VE 9mm handgun with black frame and grey slide with serial # RBF6116, including a magazine with sixteen rounds of ammunition, located on the driver’s side floor board of the Nissan Maxima;
(Evidence #81) One (1) empty “Hennessy Very Special Cognac” glass bottle, which was located on the front driver’s side floor board; of the Nissan Maxima;
(Evidence #24) A set of Barracuda Stop Sticks, which was located in the truck bed of the HPD/U.S. Marshal vehicle;
(Evidence # 28) Two cotton tipped swabs with possible blood-like substance from the rear of the crash truck located on I-84 Capitol Avenue westbound on-ramp;
(Evidence # 30, 31, 32) Three fired .40 S&W Winchester, silver cartridge casings located on the ground near the decedent’s body;
(Evidence #35) A Quicksilver Capitol One Visa card with the name Maria Nunez was located on the ground near the decedent’s body;
(Evidence #7) One bullet fragment was located on the ground near the decedent’s body;
(Evidence #3) One (1) empty Glock .40-caliber magazine from a Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol with serial #BKEN469, seized from Detective Sherry at St. Francis Hospital;
(Evidence #5) Ten (10) rounds of Winchester .40 S7W ammunition from a Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol with serial #BKEN469, seized from Detective Sherry at St. Francis Hospital;
(Evidence #6) One (1) round of Winchester .40 S7W ammunition from a Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol with serial #BKEN469, seized from Detective Sherry at St. Francis Hospital;
Evidence #7) One (1) Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol with serial #BKEN469, seized from Detective Sherry at St. Francis Hospital;
(Evidence # 10) Fifteen (15) rounds of Winchester .40 S&W ammunition, with one empty magazine from a Glock 22 .40-caliber pistol with serial #BKKZ517, seized from Officer Last at St. Francis Hospital;
(Evidence #11) One (1) round of Winchester .40 S&W ammunition, from a Glock 22 .40-caliber pistol with serial #BKKZ517, seized from Officer Last at St. Francis Hospital;
(Evidence #12) One (1) Glock 22 .40-caliber pistol with serial #BKKZ517, seized from Officer Last at St. Francis Hospital;
(Evidence #13) One (1) Blackhawk, Glock 14 holster, color black, seized from Officer Last at St. Francis Hospital;
(Evidence # 33) An Alcatel cellular phone believed to belong to Alphonso Zaporta was seized as evidence from the scene. The cell phone was downloaded and the information on the phone was saved to a disc that was submitted into evidence. Based on the extraction report, the phone number to the phone is 860-841-6015. This phone number is a different phone number that family members had given to detectives for Mr. Zaporta during the investigation. Upon reviewing the phone itself and the data extracted from it, detectives observed among other things that Mr. Zaporta was using a Text/Free App to communicate with another user titled “Headache” in the phone. The number for “headache” was determined to belong to Maribel Quinones, Mr. Zaporta’s estranged wife, and they texted back and forth prior to July 26, 2019, regarding their troubled marriage.
Hartford Police Radio Transmissions/Traffic Camera Videos:
Hartford Police Radio Transmissions
On Saturday, July 27, 2019, at approximately 2:16 a.m., Eastern District Major Crime Squad received an email from Hartford Police Department Major Crimes Division Supervisor Sergeant Anthony Rykowski which included the attached audio files: 10-24187 SCU Channel.mp3; 19-21487 Patrol and Fleet Channels.mp3; and 19-24187 - Hotline.mp3. The audio files were burned onto a Verbatim DVD-R and submitted into the case file. The audio files were subsequently transcribed as follows:
00:00 – 00:03 - Unidentified Male Officer - That dude’s off to booking and uh, we’re back now *inaudible*
00:04 – 00:05 - Unidentified Male Officer – Like Russ and Lawrence area
00:06 - Unidentified Male Officer - Roger
00:07 – 00:10 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey we looking for anyone with the last name Zaporta
00:10 - Unidentified Male Officer - *inaudible*
00:11 – 00:12 - Unidentified Male Officer - Yes, yeah most definitely
00:13 - Unidentified Male Officer - All right
00:15 - Unidentified Male Officer - You got him?
00:16 – 00:18 - Unidentified Male Officer - *inaudible* Turn the light
00:18 - Unidentified Male Officer - All right
00:20 – 00:22 - Unidentified Male Officer - West, west, west
00:26 – 00:27 - Unidentified Male Officer - What do you have Chris?
00:29 – 00:39 - Unidentified Male Officer - Eastbound on Capitol, crossing over Lawrence, black Maxima, registered to a female last name Zaporta, been looping the block on um Lawrence and Russ and everything
00:43 – 00:52 - Unidentified Male Officer - Nah, he just, listen he just jumped onto, uh eighty four from Capitol, he’s moving at a good clip, we don’t have eyes on him anymore
00:00 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
00:01 - Unidentified Male Officer - Seven forty six
00:02 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher Go ahead
00:03 – 00:06 - Unidentified Male Officer - Myself and seven forty five will be in the area of Lawrence and Russ on fifty nine
00:07 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
00:08 – 00:11 - Unidentified Male Officer - All right can you just slide some ten tens this way we already got fire out with us
00:12 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher Ten four got enroute
00:13 - Unidentified Male Officer - Thank you
00:14 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Unit six
00:15 - Unidentified Male Officer - Unit six
00:16 – 00:27 Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Goodwin Park it’ll be Southwest nothing seen on camera for the sixty five, Goodwin park southwest pool alarm on a sixty five, nothing seen on camera and twenty fifty two get you ninety nine six
00:29 – 00:32 - Unidentified Male Officer- I’ll be all set and I copy
00:33 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
00:35 – 00:40 - Unidentified Male Officer - Seven four five and seven four six enroute to the sixty four sixty three Broad and Russ all set
00:41 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
00:42 - Unidentified Male Officer - *inaudible*
00:43 – 00:50 - Unidentified Male Officer - Vehicle hasn’t moved, back ocean, I’ll be at Park and Pope Park *inaudible*
00:52 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
00:53 - 00:55 - Unidentified Male Officer - Three five four I’m ocean on my part be at Sisson and Capitol fifty nine
00:56 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
00:57 - Unidentified Female Officer - Eight clear me *inaudible*
00:58 – 01:00 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Twenty fifty four unit twenty five unit five
01:01 - Unidentified Male Officer - Five
01:02 - Unidentified Male Officer - Two five
01:03 – 01:28 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Twenty five and five you guys can start to two six seven Fairfield Ave, the first floor in the rear of the building on a seventy five complaint, called in by the property owner Robert who’s in South Carolina. He said point of contact is going to be the first floor resident Marta, the second floor tenants moved out on the fifth and now they’re in the back yard, he’d like them removed from the property, again two six seven Fairfield Ave rear of the building between Linmore and Williams seventy five complaint twenty fifty five twenty five and five
01:29 - Unidentified Male Officer - I copy
01:30 - Unidentified Female Officer - Ten four
01:31 – 01:33 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey one to twenty five you let me know on that
01:34 – 01:35 - Unidentified Male Officer - Don’t worry about it Bro I got it
01:36 – 01:38 - Unidentified Male Officer - Two you can stay five you show me arrived over there
01:39 – 01:40 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - I copy Five copy *inaudible*
01:41 - Unidentified Female Officer - I do thank you
01:42 – 01:43 - Unidentified Female Officer - Eight Franklin and one fifty nine
01:44 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
01:45 – 01:46 - Unidentified Male Officer - Twenty two ten “o” fifteen at booking
01:47 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Twenty one hundred
01:48 - Unidentified Male Officer - Six I’m out
01:50 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher -Ten four
01:51 - Unidentified Female Officer - Four
01:52 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Four go ahead
01:53 – 01:55 - Unidentified Female Officer - Can you put me at Putnam and Russ on a twenty seven
01:56 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
01:57 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Thirty one
01:58 - Unidentified Male Officer - Thirty one
01:59 – 02:21 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - *inaudible* start over to thirty three Juliet Street and twenty seven forty one called in by Wanda, said there’s an elderly male by the name of Ismail Melendez Rivera appears to be very confused at her front door, he’s stating that he lives in Puerto Rico her kids are saying that uh he possibly lives across the street more a wellbeing check at this point, again thirty three Juliet Street on a twenty seven in crown and New Britain at twenty one “o” three thirty one
02:22 – 02:23 - Unidentified Male Officer - Thirty one I copy
02:24 - Unidentified Female Officer - Eight I’ll go with him
02:25 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
02:26 - Unidentified Male Officer - One
02:27 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - One go ahead
02:28 – 02:31 - Unidentified Male Officer - I’m ocean, Can you put me out at two sixty five Washington on a quick twenty seven you can clear me if you need me
02:32 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
02:33 - Unidentified Female Officer - Eight in the area
02:34 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
02:35 - Unidentified Male Officer - Two we’re both out
02:36 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
02:37 - Unidentified Male Officer - zero clear
02:38 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
02:39 – 02:40 - Unidentified Male Officer - Three “o” one can you put me at three thirty Ledger on a fourteen
02:41 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
02:42 – 02:43 - Unidentified Female Officer - Eight inbound three
02:44 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
02:46 – 02:47 - Unidentified Male Officer - Twenty five you said it was two sixty seven
02:48 – 02:50 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - *inaudible* that’s what we were given two six seven first floor
02:51 - Unidentified Male Officer - All right
02:55 - Unidentified Male Officer - Twelve
02:56 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Twelve go ahead
02:57 – 02:58 - Unidentified Male Officer - Sorry you didn’t come across, twelve
02:59 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Go ahead twelve
03:00 – 03:01 - Unidentified Male Officer - We were able to find a ride, uh clear
03:02 - Unidentified Male Officer Nine - Ocean
03:03 – 03:05 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four nine got you clear twenty one “o” eight twelve your radio keeps breaking up
03:06 - Unidentified Male Officer - Thirty one I’m out
03:07 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
03:08 - Unidentified Male Officer - Three *inaudible*
03:09 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Twenty one “o” nine
03:11 - Unidentified Male Officer - Thirty one
03:12 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Thirty one
03:13 - Unidentified Male Officer - *inaudible*
03:14 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
03:15 – 03:16 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Unit nine unit twelve
03:17 - Unidentified Male Officer - Go
03:18 - Unidentified Male Officer – Twelve
03:19 – 03:38 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Nine and twelve twenty one Temple street apartment two zero one on a forty seven seventy called in by Carlos said Jesus Javier Cintron his roommate assaulted him left in a red Honda accord possibly to Springfield, again twenty one Temple street apartment two zero one forty seven seventy see Carlos, report his roommate assaulted him between Market and Main at twenty one
eleven nine and twelve
03:39 - Unidentified Male Officer - Ten four
03:40 - Unidentified Male Officer - Twelve I copy
03:42 - Unidentified Male Officer - Six
03:43 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Six go ahead
03:44 – 03:47 - Unidentified Male Officer - Pool is clear can I have a thirteen forty eight *inaudible*
03:48 – 03:53 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Yes sir I used two four one eight five two four one eight five twenty fifty one twenty fifty two
03:54 - Unidentified Male Officer - Thank you
03:55 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
03:56 - Unidentified Female Officer - Ocean four
03:57 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Twenty one twelve
03:58 - Unidentified Male Officer - Two five car to car
04:00 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
04:01 – 04:02 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Seven forty six you all set?
04:02 – 04:04 - Unidentified Male Officer - *inaudible* Watch out, watch out
04:05 – 04:06 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Seven forty six, seven forty five you guys all set?
04:07 - Unidentified Male Officer - Where are they?
04:08 – 04:09 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Yeah Broad and Russ guys, Broad and Russ
04:10 – 04:13 - Unidentified Male Officer - *inaudible* They’re up on 84 trying to get a car stopped
04:15 – 04:17 - Unidentified Male Officer - Shots fired, shots fired highway eighty four
04:18 - Unidentified Male Officer - Zip it
04:23 – 04:27 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - All units ten zero ten zero for seven forty six up on the highway
04:28 – 04:36 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey seven forty five we got shots fired eighty four westbound from the Capitol Avenue. Ten ten code three, supervisor
04:37 – 04:41 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey you’re not going to be able to get here, you're not going to be able to get here, get the construction out of here
04:42 - Unidentified Male Officer - We’re on the highway
04:43 - Unidentified Male Officer - Which highway
04:44 – 04:57 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey blue, blue we’re safe, one party in custody, suspect is down, *inaudible*, we’re uh eighty four west from Capitol
04:58 – 04:59 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four copy eighty four west from Capitol
05:00 - Unidentified Male Officer - Three twenty put me enroute
05:01 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
05:03 – 05:05 - Unidentified Male Officer - Jose, are all our guys ok out there
05:06 – 05:07 - Unidentified Male Officer - yeah blue blue *inaudible*
05:08 - 05:10 - Unidentified Male Officer - Roger stepping it up for you I’ll be out there in a minute
05:11 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
05:12 - Unidentified Male Officer - Yeah Sarge we’re good
05:13 – 05:15 - Unidentified Male Officer - *inaudible* Shut the highway down
05:16 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - I copy
05:17 – 05:31 - Unidentified Male Officer - Forty five notify state have them shut the highway down central and the first units on the scene make sure we’re ok any buses we need make sure they’re facilitated in there, and make sure we tape off the crime scene
05:33 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Hartford to State on the hotline
05:34 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - State’s on come in
05:37 – 05:43 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - I think we just had an officer involved shooting up on 84 by Broad Street if you guys can uh give us a hand up there
05:44 – 05:53 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey uh, LT, uh the traffic is probably because of traffic here all blue is ok we’re good, guys *inaudible*
05:54 – 06:01 - Unidentified Male Officer - Forty five, traffic is working yard goats if they could split their resources and start directing traffic off the highway
06:02 – 06:08 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Eighty four west from Capitol now they’re saying, should be up on the highway there
06:09 - Unidentified Male Officer - Six two you copying all that?
06:10 – 06:16 - Unidentified Male Officer - All right forty do we have a supervisor there yet can we cancel the ten zero, lets, can we take care of that first
06:17 – 06:18 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey Cap, I’m almost there
06:19 – 06:21 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - You got cars coming to you, need anything?
06:24 – 06:25 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher Where on eighty four west are they?
06:26 – 06:35 - Unidentified Female Dispatcher - Traffic anybody available to divert and get people off the highway, per forty five, from eighty four west from Capitol?
06:36 – 06:40 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - No we’ve got everything rolling up there, it’s uh undercover detectives I believe
06:41 – 06:42 - Unidentified Male Officer - Yeah from Capitol hey, *inaudible* code three please
06:43 – 06:46 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four copy eighty four west from Capitol got two ten tens enroute for you
06:47 - Unidentified Male Officer - Roger that
06:49 – 06:51 - Unidentified Male Officer - Three ten I’m out here, cancel the zip, cancel the zip
06:52 – 06:53 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Copy cancel twenty one sixteen
06:54 – 06:59 - Unidentified Male Officer - All right forty five notify state let them know to let the buses through if they’re up there by that traffic
07:01 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
07:02 – 07:07 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey let’s get us a ten ten here as quick as we can please if he’s got to come the wrong way on the highway that’s fine too
07:08 – 07:13 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Canceling the ten, canceling the ten zero at twenty one seventeen, canceling the ten zero at twenty one seventeen, got the ten ten enroute for you
07:14 – 07:18 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey we’ll be sending the uh ambulance and fire the wrong way up on the highway the way it’s blocked off
07:19 – 07:23 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey were moving the construction uh vehicles from here to, to clear for traffic
07:24 - Unidentified Male Officer - Seven thirty one
07:25 – 07:30 - Unidentified Male Officer - Whoever’s back up from me we got to start backing these cars off the highway get this shut down nobody comes past here
07:31 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Go ahead seven thirty one
07:32 - Unidentified Female Dispatcher - State copies
07:36 – 07:37 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey we need that ten ten up here
07:38 - Unidentified Female Dispatcher - Seven thirty one go ahead
07:39 – 07:40 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four got you enroute code three
07:41 – 07:44 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey do we have State up there yet they can start directing these cars from where we are right now
07:45 – 07:46 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Yeah we got a uh bunch of state troopers enroute
07:47 – 07:51 - Unidentified Male Officer - All right get them up on the highway for us, I’m sending cars back the other way still
07:52 - Unidentified Male Officer - Seven forty five
07:53 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Seven forty five
07:54 – 08:02 - Unidentified Male Officer - Just for the record uh in plain view under the driver’s seat where he was reaching into when this all went down, were going to be securing an eighty three
08:03 – 08:04 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four securing an eighty three twenty one eighteen
08:05 – 08:09 - Unidentified Male Officer - Forty five central leave that eighty three there for crime scene secure the car
08:10 – 08:13 - Unidentified Male Officer - *Inaudible*eighty four west from ninety one south *inaudible* for now
08:14 – 08:16 - Unidentified Female Dispatcher - Ten four we’re no longer *inaudible* I’ll let them know
08:17 – 08:21 - Unidentified Male Officer - Hey seven twenty one can you have somebody block Capitol on ramp to eighty four west
08:23 – 08:28 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Hartford to the State, they got a uh, quite a scene up there so just uh be advised the highway will be shut down
08:29 – 08:35 - Unidentified Male Officer - Yeah we got uh the state the state police are out here now, *inaudible* clearing the lanes now to get that ambulance off
08:36 – 08:38 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Roger we have DOT coming for a traffic pattern
08:40 – 08:43 - Unidentified Male Officer - Three five eight we’re shutting it down from Capitol Avenue right Now
08:44 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
08:45 – 08:46 - Unidentified Male Officer - *inaudible* one’s taking our guy to Sacred
08:47 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Copy
08:49 – 08:55 - Unidentified Male Officer - Four hundred, one of the officers on scene called in a code seven four four three, *inaudible* a supervisor on scene two one out
08:56 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Go sir
08:57 – 09:04 - Unidentified Male Officer - Two ocean put me out at uh shutting off the on ramp at, uh, one union
09:05 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher – Copy
00:00 – 00:01 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Hartford to State on the hotline
00:01 – 00:02 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - State’s on come in
00:04 – 00:10 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - I think we just had an officer involved shooting up on Eighty four by Broad Street if you guys can uh give us a hand up there
00:11 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Which direction
00:14 – 00:18 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Eighty four West from Capitol now they’re saying, should be up on the highway there
00:19 – 00:20 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - We’ve got cars coming to you need anything
00:23 – 00:28 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - No we’ve got everything rolling up there, it’s uh undercover Detectives I believe
00:29 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Roger that
00:31 – 00:35 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Hey we’ll be sending the uh ambulance and fire the wrong way up on the highway the way it’s blocked off
00:36 - Unidentified Female Dispatcher - State copies
00:40 – 00:45 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Hartford to the State, they got a uh, quite a scene up there so just uh be advised the highway will be shut down
00:46 – 00:48 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Roger we have DOT coming for a traffic pattern
00:50 - Unidentified Male Dispatcher - Ten four
The City of Hartford has cameras fixed and mounted on poles monitoring traffic at various points throughout the city. Video footage from these cameras was downloaded and reviewed. Two of those cameras captured the early stages of this incident. The cameras at the intersection of Sigourney Street, Russ Street and Park Terrace captured the Nissan Maxima pulling over on Park Terrace, and then its hazard lights turning on with the HPD Chevrolet Impala stopping behind the Maxima. The emergency lights of the Impala are then turned on. The Maxima proceeds to drive away at a high rate of speed with the Impala following. The next and only other camera to pick up this part of this incident is at Capitol Avenue and Broad Street. This camera captured the Maxima proceeding on Capitol Avenue through the intersection at a very high speed compared to other vehicles on the road. A fair amount of time later, video from this camera shows the Impala proceeding on Capitol Avenue without emergency lights and at a much slower speed than the Maxima. The Impala pauses at a red traffic light on Capitol Avenue at Broad Street and waits for traffic to pass. Emergency lights are then are turned on as it proceeds through the intersection. This video confirms the sequence of events as described by Officer Last, Officer Hebert and Officer Prignano that preceded the events on the Capitol Avenue entrance ramp to Interstate 84 minutes later.
DNA
On August 9, 2019, a DNA Report dated August 9, 2019, was received from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Division of Scientific Services Connecticut Forensic Laboratory in Meriden. The report was a result of the analysis of the following submitted items.
Lab submission #002, (Evidence Item #2) - One (1) Smith & Wesson SW9VE 9mm Handgun, Black frame, Gray Slide, Serial #RBF6116, with magazine and sixteen (16) rounds of ammunition;
Lab submission #006, (Evidence Item #10) - Fifteen (15) rounds of Winchester .40 S&W ammunition with one (1) empty magazine from a Glock 22, .40-caliber pistol, serial # BKKZ517 from Officer Last;
Lab submission #007, (Evidence Item #12) - One (1) Glock 22 .40-caliber, semi-automatic pistol, black in color, serial # BKKZ517, belonging to Officer Rocky Last:
Lab submission #008 (Evidence Item #13) - One (1) Blackhawk, Glock 19 holster, color black, belonging to Officer Last;
Lab submission #017, (Evidence Item #42) - One (1) fired bullet w/ BLS in brown prescription bottle.
Following are the results stated in the lab report:
1. #002-001-01 (Swabbing – Grip area of firearm)
“The results are consistent with the DNA profile from item #002-001-01 being a mixture of five contributors with at least one of them being male. This profile is too complex for STRmix interpretation. Due to the complexity of the DNA profile from item #002-001-01, no comparisons will be made.”
2. #002-001-02 (Swabbing – Trigger of firearm)
“The results are consistent with the DNA profile from item #002-001-02 being a mixture of five contributors with a least two of them being male. This profile is too complex for STRmix interpretation. Due to the complexity of the DNA profile from item #002-001-02, no comparisons will be made.”
3. #002-001-03 (Swabbing – slide area of firearm)
“The results are consistent with the DNA profile from item #002-001-03 being a mixture of five contributors with at least three of them being male. This profile is too complex for STRmix interpretation. Due to the complexity of the DNA profile from item #002-001-03, no comparisons will be made.”
4. #002-002-01 (Swabbing – Magazine)
“The results are consistent with the DNA profile from item #002-002-01 being a mixture of three contributors. The results do not support the hypothesis that Alphonso Zaporta is a contributor to this profile. Assuming three contributors, Alphonso Zaporta is eliminated as a contributor to the DNA profile from item #002-002-01.”
5. #002-003-01 (Swabbing – Cartridges)
“The results are consistent with the DNA profile from item #002-003-01 being a mixture of two contributors with at least one of them being male. Assuming two contributors, the DNA profile from item #002-003-01 is at least 41,000 times more likely to occur if it originated from Alphonso Zaporta and one unknown individual than if it originated from two unknown individuals.”
6. #006-001-01 (Swabbing – magazine base)
“The results are consistent with the DNA profile from item #006-001-01 being a mixture of two contributors with at least one of them being male. Assuming two contributors, the DNA profile from item #006-001-01 is at least 100 billion times more likely to occur if it originated from Alphonso Zaporta and one unknown individual than if it originated from two unknown individuals.”
7. #007-001 (Reddish-brown stain on right side of slide of firearm)
“The results are consistent with the DNA profile from item #007-001 originating from a single male individual. Assuming one individual, the DNA profile from item #007-001 is at least 100 billion times more likely to occur if it originated from Alphonso Zaporta than if it originated from an unknown individual.”
8. #007-002 (Swabbing – Grip area of firearm)
“The results are consistent with the DNA profile from item #007-002 being a mixture of four contributors with at least two of them being male. Assuming four contributors, the DNA profile from item #007-002 is at least 100 billion times more likely to occur if it originated from Alphonso Zaporta and three unknown individuals than if it originated from four unknown individuals.”
9. #007-003 (Swabbing – Top of slide of firearm)
“The results are consistent with the DNA profile from item #007-003 being a mixture of three contributors with at least two of them being male. Assuming three contributors, the DNA profile from item #007-003 is at least 100 billion times more likely to occur if it originated from Alphonso Zaporta and two unknown individuals than if it originated from three unknown individuals.”
10. #007-005 (Swabbing – Trigger of firearm)
“The results are consistent with the DNA profile from item #007-005 being a mixture of two contributors with at least one of them being male. Assuming two contributors, the DNA profile from item #007-005 is at least 100 billion times more likely to occur if it originated from Alphonso Zaporta and one unknown individual than if it originated from two unknown individuals.”
11. #017-001 (Reddish-brown staining on projectile)
“The results are consistent with the DNA profile from item #017-001 originating from a single male individual. The results from item #017-001 are identical to the results from item #007-001. Therefore, assuming one individual, the DNA profile from item #017-001 is at least 100 billion times more likely to occur if it originated from Alphonso Zaporta than if it originated from an unknown individual.”
Latent Prints
On August 7, 2019, at 12:14 p.m. a Latent Print Report was received from the Connecticut Forensic Laboratory. The report was identified as lab submission #002. The evidence that was processed was evidence item #002, a Smith & Wesson SW9VE 9mm pistol with serial # RBF6116 with magazine and sixteen (16) bullets.
Among other findings, the report stated that one fingerprint impression of value was noted only on the Smith & Wesson pistol (evidence item #2). The report stated that the source of the impression was identified as the left thumb of Alphonso Zaporta. Marquis Treadwell was excluded as a source of the impression. No impressions of value were developed on the other items.
Firearms
On October 11, 2019, CSP EDMC detectives received a Firearm Report dated September 12, 2019, from the Connecticut Forensic Laboratory. The reported stated, among other things:
- Lab Submission #002 (Evidence #2)- One (1) Smith & Wesson SW9VE 9mm-handgun, Black frame, Gray Slide, Serial #RBF6116, with magazine and sixteen (16) rounds of ammunition was test fired proved to be operational.
- Lab Submission #005 (Evidence #7) - One (1) Glock 23 .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol, serial #BKEN469,black in color, with XIPHOSNIx Night ops light, from Detective Sherry, was test fired proved to be operational.
- Lab Submission #007 (Evidence #12) - One (1) Glock 22 .40-caliber, semi-automatic pistol, black in color, serial # BKKZ517, belonging to Officer Last was test fired proved to be operational.
The report also stated the following:
- Cartridge casings recovered from the test firing of Lab Submission #002 (Evidence #2)- One (1) Smith & Wesson SW9VE 9mm-handgun, black frame, gray Slide, serial #RBF6116, were entered into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) database and compared to cartridge casings recovered on Lawrence Street in Hartford on July 9, 2019, by Officer Harlow. Preliminary findings indicate an association between those two cases.
- Submissions 009, 010, and 011 (Evidence #30, 31, 32) casings recovered from the scene of the incident, were fired from Submission # 005, (Evidence # 7) One (1) Glock 23 .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol, serial #BKEN469, black in color, with XIPHOSNIx Night ops light, from Detective Sherry.
- Submission 016, 018, 019, and 020 projectiles are copper jackets and copper jacket fragments of varying size. Submission 021 is composed of small lead fragments of no comparison value and copper jacket fragments.”
- Submission 016, 018, 019, 020 (Evidence # 41, 43, 44, and 45) were projectiles and the copper jacket fragments found at the scene of the incident and submission 021 (Evidence # 53) (eleven (11) projectile fragments were removed from Mr. Zaporta’s body by OCME staff) could have been fired by the .40 S&W Glock pistol, model 23 Gen 4, serial number BKEN469 based on class characteristics; however, due to damage and lack of detail a more conclusive determination could not be rendered.
- Submission 015 and 017 projectiles are damaged, large caliber lead bullet cores and are of no comparison value.
On Sunday, July 28, 2019, at approximately 9:30 a.m., an autopsy of Alphonso Zaporta was conducted by Dr. Gregory A. Vincent M.D., Associate Medical Examiner, at the office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington. The initial results of the autopsy certified the cause of death as “Pending further study”, and the manner of death as “Pending further study”. (ME# 19-13419)
During the autopsy of Mr. Zaporta, 11 projectile fragments were removed from his head. The projectiles/fragments were seized as evidence by CSP EDMC detectives.
On Tuesday, October 8, 2019, CSP EDMC received an Autopsy/Post Mortem Report and Toxicology Report from the OCME (ME #19-13419). The report noted, among other things, that the cause of death was listed as “Gunshot Wounds of the head (3)” and the manner of death was listed as “Homicide (Shot by Police).” The report also noted that there were “Gunshot Wounds of the Head (3) A. Comminuted Skull Fractures, B. Perforation and Penetration of the Brain, C. Projectile Fragments Recovered”. There were three gunshot wounds to the head: (1) perforating gunshot wound to back of head with wound track perforating the right occipital, parietal and frontal lobes, exiting the left front forehead; (2) penetrating gunshot wound to left side of head with a bullet wound track penetrating the left occipital and parietal lobes, with four fragment recovered; and (3) graze gunshot wound of posterior left head with perforation of left ear.
The Toxicology report noted among other things, that positive findings in vitreous source of the decedent consisted of “Ethanol 0.178 g% + or – 0.010 g%”. (Refer to Autopsy/Post Mortem Report and Toxicology Report for Further Details).
Mr. Zaporta’s fingerprints were taken during the autopsy and sent to the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification to confirm his identity.
Firearms surveys/inspections were conducted at the scene of the incident by CSP EDMC detectives for all law enforcement personnel present during the shooting. The officers involved gave verbal statements and it was learned that only Detective Sherry had discharged his duty weapon.
Detective Sherry has been employed by the Hartford Police Department since October 11, 2005, and is currently assignment to the Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Division and further assigned to the United States Marshal Violent Fugitive Task Force. Detective Sherry last completed annual firearms certification/training on May 15, 2019, from the Police Officer Standards and Training (POST).
A total of three cartridge/rounds were fired from Detective Sherry’s department-issued Semi-Automatic Glock 23Gen 4 .40-caliber handgun loaded with Winchester 40-caliber hollow point ammunition. The total ammunition capacity was 14 rounds, 13 in the magazine and one in the chamber. Upon inspection, there were 11 live rounds left in the weapon and the weapon was missing three rounds. The missing three rounds were consistent with the HPD officers’ statements and BWC footage.
The firearm survey revealed that Officer Last did not discharge his duty weapon. However, during the struggle with Mr. Zaporta Officer Last felt a tug at his right hip and noticed that his duty weapon and holster was missing from his belt. He saw that his duty weapon and holster were in Mr. Zaporta’s right hand. Officer Last’s department-issued Semi-Automatic Glock 22 Gen4 .40 caliber handgun was loaded with Winchester 40-caliber hollow point ammunition. The total capacity was 16 rounds. Officer Last had two additional magazines that were filled to capacity with 15 live round each.
Officer Last’s holster was noted to be a Blackhawk Glock 19 holster, an HPD-issued holster that held his duty weapon. The holster was found to have a damaged/broken belt clip that was broken during the struggle with Mr. Zaporta. After looking at the damaged holster, it was noted that the three set screws that hold the holster to the belt clip were intact, however, the area of the belt clip that secures to the holster was broken during the struggle with Mr. Zaporta. The holster, with the screws still attached, had separated from the clip. It appeared that the section around the housing for the set screws had been broken, which allowed the holster and belt clip to separate.
HPD Det. Sherry & Officer Last Firearms Qualifications
Detective Sherry and Officer Last were found to be current on HPD and POST firearms certifications. Both last qualified under POST instructors with their assigned handguns and patrol rifles on May 15, 2019.
A handgun was located on the driver’s side floor board of the Nissan Maxima with that Alphonso Zaporta was driving at the time of the incident. CSP EDMC detectives completed a firearms survey/inspection that found the handgun was a Smith and Wesson SW9VE 9mm with a full magazine. The firearms survey found the weapon had 16 live rounds in the Blazer/Luger 9mm rounds and no live round in the chamber. The firearm was determined to have been reported stolen from a vehicle in Springfield Massachusetts, on February 26, 2019.
Five Primary HPD Officers Statements
At the time of the incident, there were five primary HPD Officers involved: Det. Perez, Officer Last, Officer Hebert, Officer Prignano and Det. Sherry. The officers decided to given detailed written reports regarding the incident, which were submitted to CSP EDMC detectives. Summaries of the reports follow:
Officer Prignano
Officer J. Prignano J37 stated, among other things, “I am … currently assigned to the Hartford Police Street Crimes Unit (SCU). Throughout this report we were acting in our official law enforcement capacity. Our primary mission is to reduce gun violence throughout the City of Hartford by actively investigating illegal possession and/or use of firearms, firearms tracking, aggravated assaults, non-fatal shootings, narcotics possession and sales, and related crimes.” On July 26, 2019, at approximately 8:50 p.m., Officer Prignano explained that he and Officers Last and Hebert were on a directed patrol in the area of Lawrence Street and Russ Street. Officer Prignano explained, “We observed a party who looked like wanted person, Alfonso Zaporta (9/25/77) but lost sight of the party. We were aware of several active warrants for Zaporta and that Zaporta was suspected to be in possession of a firearm. A short moment later Officer Prignano explained that they observed a black Maxima drive out of a driveway onto Lawrence Street at an unreasonably high rate of speed. The vehicle then continued south on Lawrence Street towards Park Street. We observed the Maxima from a distance but did not attempt to stop the vehicle at this point. The vehicle proceeded to travel north on Park Terrace.”
Officer Prignano said “an NCIC check of the CT Registration showed the vehicle registered to a female with the last name Zaporta. Before they attempted to stop the vehicle, the black Maxima pulled to the east side of Park Terrace approximately 100 feet south of Capitol Avenue and stopped on the east side of the roadway. We stopped behind the Maxima which was already stopped, and activated the police lights and siren on our unmarked vehicle to conduct a traffic stop, to attempt a warrant service on who we believed was wanted person, Alfonso Zaporta.”
“As soon as we activated our lights, the black Maxima drove away at an unreasonably high rate of speed. The Maxima appeared to have sideswiped another unknown vehicle at Park Terrace and Capitol Avenue. The Maxima then turned right onto Capitol Avenue and continued east. The vehicle was driving in such a reckless manner. At this point we turned off our lights and sirens and did not pursue the vehicle. We tried to keep sight of the vehicle from a distance in order to notify surrounding units the make and model of the vehicle and the last direction of travel. As we approached Broad Street, we observed a dark colored vehicle entering the i84 west on ramp. At that time we were not certain that it was the vehicle. About midway onto the onramp we observed a line of vehicles stopped in traffic behind construction trucks that were blocking the roadway. We observed the black Maxima stuck behind the construction truck, unable to continue onto the highway. At that time we attempted to conduct another motor vehicle stop.”
Officer Prignano said, “I exited the vehicle along with Officer Hebert and we ran towards the Maxima on foot dressed in approved Street Crimes Unit uniform of the day. The officers were equipped with outer vest carriers, which have yellow “POLICE” patches affixed to both the front and rear of the vest, making us easily and clearly identifiable as police officers. We were equipped with police issued Body Worn Cameras (BWC) which were powered on and recording during this incident. As we approached the vehicle; it drove forward and stopped because there was no way to get around the construction vehicles. We yelled verbal commands to the driver, identifying themselves as Police Officers and instructing him to stop and exit the vehicle. The operator, later identified as Alfonso Zaporta, proceeded to put the vehicle in reverse and struck the vehicle behind him. The operator then drove forward towards Officer Hebert who had to move quickly to get out of the way and was nearly struck by the Maxima.”
Officer Prignano stated, “I was behind the vehicle as it came to a stop and I observed the passenger suddenly exit the vehicle. I ran towards the passenger and instructed him to lay on the ground. I grabbed the arm of the passenger as he laid down in the prone position and I held his hands behind his back. The passenger stated, ‘It’s not me, it’s him.’ The passenger stated that he would cooperate and that the driver “wants to die”. The passenger also stated ‘I don’t want to die.’ As I was securing the passenger who appeared to be cooperative, I heard officers yelling verbal commands to the operator who appeared to be physically resisting. HPD Detective Jose Perez arrived and placed handcuffs on the passenger.”
Officer Prignano stated, “I heard Officer Last yell ‘gun.’ I ran to the driver’s side of the vehicle and observed Officer Last struggling in the driver’s seat with Zaporta, as Officer Hebert attempted to gain control of Zaporta from outside. Zaporta had both legs outside of the vehicle and was leaning inside the vehicle tangled with Officer Last who continued to yell that Zaporta has a gun or that he was attempting to get a gun, I couldn’t hear him clearly. I grabbed the back of Zaporta’s pant legs and lifted his legs up in the air. I started to pull Zaporta out of the vehicle and away from Officer Last but Zaporta was holding onto something so it took several pulls. Zaporta fell outside of the vehicle onto the ground and that was when I saw a gun in Zaporta's hands. It appeared that Zaporta had two hands on the firearm when I pulled him out of the vehicle. As I pulled Zaporta I heard three gunshots and saw that Zaporta had been wounded in the head. The operator immediately appeared to be unresponsive.”
Officer Prignano said, “I spoke to the passenger and asked him how he knew Zaporta. The passenger stated that he only knows his nickname, “Park Street”. The passenger continued to say that Zaporta stated that he was ‘ready to die’ and asked him if he was ‘ready to die’ and he replied ‘no.’ The passenger stated that he told Zaporta that he wanted to get out of the vehicle, so he surrendered as soon as he had the opportunity to.”
Officer Hebert
Officer Hebert stated, among other things, “I am currently is assigned to the Hartford Police Street Crimes Unit (SCU). Throughout this report I was acting in his official law enforcement capacity. The primary mission of the SCU is to reduce gun violence throughout the City of Hartford, by actively investigating illegal possession and/or use of firearms, firearms trafficking, aggravated assaults, non-fatal shootings, narcotics possession and sales, and related crimes. I was operating an unmarked police vehicle, equipped with police lights and an audible siren. I was dressed in the approved Hartford Police Street Crimes Unit uniform of the day, equipped with an outer vest carrier, which has the word, “POLICE” affixed to both the front and rear of the vest in bold, yellow lettering. I was also equipped with a department issued Body Worn Camera (BWC), which was powered on and recording during this incident.’
“On July 26, 2019, at approximately 2053 hours [8:53 p.m.], Officer Prignano, Officer Last, and I were on a directed patrol in the area of Lawrence Street and Russ Street. It should be noted that this area has been plagued by recent incidents involving shots fired and is frequented by persons operating stolen motor vehicles, as well as home to numerous quality of life complaints.”
“A short time later, I observed a dark colored sedan quickly pull from a driveway on the west side of Lawrence Street, as we were traveling southbound on that street. I know the approximate area where the vehicle pulled out from to be in the vicinity of a house where stolen vehicles park, due to their being a large parking lot in the rear of the house, which is not visible from the street. The sedan accelerated towards Park Street and turned right to travel westbound on Park Street. Officer Last, who was driving, began trying to catch up to the vehicle in order to obtain a registration plate number. The vehicle then turned right to travel northbound on Putnam Street and then left to travel westbound on Putnam Heights. At this point they were able to catch up the vehicle as it turned right onto Park Terrace, to travel northbound and observed it was a black in color, Nissan Maxima. While following directly behind the vehicle, we obtained the plate number from the registration plate, which was affixed to the rear of the vehicle, in plain view. When Officer Prignano conducted an inquiry of the plate through DMV, via our computer inside the vehicle, it came back registered to a female with the last name, “Zaporta”, out of Windsor, CT. I immediately recognized the last name, which matched the last name of a male that we had received intelligence about over an approximate two week period. Officer Last noticed the name and concurred it was the same one we had been receiving intelligence about. I then radioed to other SCU members to confirm that was in fact the last name in question. Officer Hermann confirmed it was the correct last name and that the male we were looking for was, Alphonso Zaporta.”
“It is worth noting that the intelligence we had received was over approximately two weeks and was confirmed by a Confidential Informant, who shall remain unnamed throughout. The information obtained was that Zaporta was in possession of a firearm and was seen in the Lawrence Street and Russ Street areas. He also had three (sic) active warrants for his arrest, for unknown charges. There were also unreported incidents that Zaporta had pistol whipped an individual in the area of Orange Street and fired rounds in the Lawrence Street area on multiple occasions. The CI reported that Zaporta was allegedly trying to “Take over” the area.”
“As we passed over Russ Street, still traveling northbound on Park Terrace, the vehicle’s hazard flashers became illuminated and it began to slow down. The vehicle then began to pull off to the right side of the road, against the east curb. Officer Last activated our police vehicle’s emergency lights and siren, in order to conduct a motor vehicle stop. Once the occupants, observed our police lights, the vehicle immediately pulled back into the travel lane on Park Terrace, to travel northbound and made a right turn to travel eastbound on Capitol Avenue. Officer Last immediately shut the lights and siren off and began to follow at a distance to try and get additional resources in the area, to potentially get the vehicle stopped. The vehicle sped eastbound on Capitol Avenue, through the red traffic signal at Broad Street. We briefly activated our lights and sirens again, to safely clear the intersection. At this time the Maxima was making a left turn onto the I-84W on ramp. Once through the intersection, I relayed the vehicle’s direction of travel over the SCU radio channel. We got onto the I 84W on ramp, in order to try and keep visual on the vehicle, in case it got off an exit, back into the City of Hartford.”
“As we got onto the on ramp, we immediately observed grid locked traffic. We moved through the traffic to ensure there were no cars that had been hit, or property damaged from the vehicle’s reckless driving prior to this. I observed a large construction vehicle, parked across the ramp, blocking all traffic from passing it, as well as construction in front of it. I then observed a dark colored Nissan Maxima, trying to get by the truck, but was unsuccessful. The vehicle appeared to be backing up and going forward, beeping its horn, trying to aggressively get through the construction zone.”
“I exited the police vehicle, with a stop stick, after relaying that we were in traffic on the ramp and the vehicle did not have a way around traffic. As I approached the vehicle, it sped in the direction of other stopped motorists on the highway. Due to the aggressive manner of driving I had already observed and the fact there were other innocent motorists on the roadway, as well as construction crews that were out on foot, I quickly threw the stop stick under the vehicle, in order to immobilize it safely. The stop stick struck the passenger side front tire, causing the tire to instantly deflate. It should be noted that I am trained and qualified through Stop Stick in the proper use and employment. The stop stick utilized was a three foot “Terminator”, which is designed to rapidly deflate a vehicle tire. The vehicle then stopped at the front bumper of my vehicle and I quickly attempted to cross over the front bumper, in order to remove the driver from the vehicle. As I crossed in front of the vehicle from approximately twenty feet away, the operator accelerated towards me, causing me to have to leap out of the path of travel because I did not have any protection from the vehicle. The vehicle again came to a stop at the previously stated construction vehicle, which was still blocking the roadway. The passenger, a male individual exited the vehicle with his hands up and was immediately secured in handcuffs by other officers on scene. I ran to the driver side door to remove the operator from the vehicle and observed he was rolling the window up. Fearing that he could possibly be retrieving a weapon from inside the vehicle and trying to mask his actions, I immediately went to open the driver side front door to see inside the vehicle as well as the operator’s actions, with my department issued firearm drawn and pointed towards the vehicle. As I reached for the door handle, the door swung open and the operator, later identified as Alphonso Zaporta, leapt from the vehicle and lunged towards him. As he did, he grabbed the top portion of my firearm with both hands, trying to pull it from him. I placed my left hand, which was reaching for the door, back onto my firearm and was able to violently pull it downward, away from Zaporta’s grasp. Once out, Zaporta wrapped his arms around me and I struck Zaporta one time in the left side of his head with my firearm, which was still un-holstered and in my right hand. Officer Last came over and wrapped Zaporta up and forced him away from me. I immediately holstered his firearm and observed Officer Last struggling with Zaporta in a confined area, close to the driver’s door jamb area. It appeared that Zaporta was trying to reach towards the center console area. Again fearing he was attempting to retrieve a weapon, I drew my police baton and struck him on his right arm two to three times, which was completely ineffective. Detective Sherry attempted to assist Officer Last by pulling him from the vehicle in order to place him in handcuffs. I heard Officer Last yell, “He’s got my gun!” “He’s got my gun!” Officer Sherry had a hold on Zaporta’s left arm and was trying to pull him from the vehicle. Officer Last and Zaporta were mostly inside the vehicle in the driver’s seat. Zaporta’s left arm was the only portion exposed and I struck him two to three times on that arm, again without being effective. Due to them being in the car and the fact that Zaporta had possession of Officer Last’s department issued firearm, I ran to the passenger side and drew my firearm and warned Zaporta he was going to be shot. Zaporta was then pulled from the vehicle by Officer Last and Detective Sherry and I heard three to four rounds fired from a gun.”
“I went back around to the driver’s side of the vehicle and observed Zaporta lying flat on the ground. Officer Last’s gun was up towards Zaporta’s head area, where his hands were extended towards. Officer Last took possession of his firearm and Zaporta was placed in handcuffs, for safety reasons.”
“As I looked at Zaporta, I observed a large hole in his forehead and near his neck area. There did not appear to be any rise or fall from his chest as I looked at him. Through my training and experience as a State of Connecticut Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), I know these injuries to be not compatible with life. An ambulance was immediately requested on scene, as well as a supervisor and additional units. It was broadcast over the police radio that shots had been fired, that a suspect was hit and all police personnel were ok.”
“As I peered into the vehicle’s compartment, to ensure no other persons were inside the vehicle, Detective Perez advised me that there was a firearm on the driver’s side front floor area. I looked down and in plain view, observed a black and silver firearm.”
“Numerous police personnel, supervisors and command staff quickly arrived on scene and the area was secured as a crime scene, including a perimeter. An ambulance arrived on scene and evaluated Zaporta.”
“After the crime scene was established, I was ordered to return to the Hartford Police Headquarters, located at 253 High Street.”
Officer Last
Officer Last stated among other things, “I, Officer Rocky Last am currently assigned to the Hartford Police Street Crimes Unit (SCU). Throughout this report I was acting in my official law enforcement capacity. The primary mission of the SCU is to reduce gun violence throughout the City of Hartford, by actively investigating illegal possession and or/use of firearms, firearms trafficking, aggravated assaults, non-fatal shootings, narcotics possession and sales, and related crimes. I was operating an unmarked cruiser, equipped with police lights and an audible siren. Officer Last stated that he was dressed in the approved Hartford Police Street Crimes Unit uniform of the day, equipped with an outside vest carrier, which has the word “POLICE” affixed to both the front and rear of the vest in bold, yellow lettering. Officer Last was also equipped with a department issued Body Worn Camera (BWC), which was powered on and recording this incident.”
“For the two weeks, I have been assigned to the Hartford Police Street Crimes Unit (SCU). I was advised on several occasions by Intelligence Sergeants and by Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Detectives (VIN), that a party by the name of Alphonso Zaporta was known to be in the area of Lawrence Street. It was reported that Zaporta was wanted in questioning for multiple shootings in the area. Zaporta was also wanted on multiple arrest warrants. Detectives also informed all SCU members that Zaporta was seen operating various different motor vehicles.”
“On July 26, 2019, at approximately 20:50hours [8:50 p.m.], Officer Prignano, Officer Hebert, and I were on patrol in the area of Lawrence Street inside our unmarked police cruiser. I was operating the vehicle. While traveling southbound on Lawrence Street, he observed a Nissan Maxima turn westbound on Park Street without signaling. While following the vehicle from a distance, I observed it turn northbound onto Putnam Street from Park Street. The Nissan Maxima then turned westbound on Putnam Heights and then again without signaling turned northbound on Park Terrace. Officer Prignano was able to obtain the marker plate number and check it with DMV files. Officer Prignano discovered that the last name to the owner of the vehicle was a Zaporta. At this time, Officer Hebert who was sitting in the rear passenger seat of our cruiser radioed to other Officers and Detectives on our channel informing of the information we had and that Alphonso Zaporta could possibly be in the vehicle.”
“As I followed the Nissan from a distance, I observed the vehicle put on its hazard lights and pull over to the east curb in front of 10 Park Terrace, again without using his turn signal. I turned on his emergency lights and siren and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. At this point the Nissan accelerated and fled northbound on Park Terrace and then eastbound on Capitol Avenue at a high rate of speed. We continued to follow the Nissan from a distance without our emergency lights and siren. We did this because of the reckless operation of the Nissan. Continuing eastbound on Capitol Avenue, the Nissan turn onto Interstate-84 westbound on ramp at Capitol Avenue. I could see it was the Nissan because the operator still had not turned off his hazard lights. I continued to follow the vehicle, without his emergency lights and siren believing from the nature of his driving that he presented a danger to other vehicles on the highway.”
“As I entered the highway on ramp from Capitol Avenue for Interstate-84 Westbound and I saw the Nissan in heavy congested traffic unable to drive any further, due to a State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) vehicle blocking all lanes to the highway. I later became aware that the DOT vehicle was blocking the highway so the construction workers could set up a cone pattern for the apparent construction.”
“When we saw that the Nissan had no avenue of escape, Officer Hebert and Officer Prignano exited the vehicle to approach the operator of the Nissan, I stayed inside the vehicle in the operator’s seat. At this time, the Nissan reverse taillights came on and the operator, later identified as Alphonso Zaporta, sped his vehicle in reverse colliding with another stopped vehicle. As Zaporta reversed his vehicle, Officer Hebert successfully threw his “stop sticks” under the Nissan causing the vehicle to run them over. After the Nissan collided with the vehicle that was stuck in traffic, it drove forward directly at Officer Hebert almost striking him. Officer Hebert was able to move to his right past the driver’s side front fender of the Nissan to avoid being hit by the vehicle. The Nissan continued forward and struck the DOT truck again. At this point the passenger to the Nissan exited the vehicle with his hands up in the air and surrendered to Officer Prignano without incident.”
“Officer Hebert approach the operator of the Nissan with his gun drawn in his right hand. Zaporta then lunged out of the driver’s side door towards Officer Hebert and attempted to grab his weapon. As Zaporta began fighting with Officer Hebert, I exited my police cruiser and ran up to Zaporta on foot. I placed his right arm around his head/ neck area in an attempt to get Zaporta to stop physically fighting. As I engaged Zaporta in the hold, I lost his balance due to his aggressive fighting. We both fell into the drivers’ side compartment/seat of the Nissan. Both Zaporta and I were facing outward, with both of our feet on the asphalt. I still had his right arm around Zaporta’s head and with my left hand, I was attempting to broadcast a transmission for more units. When doing so, Zaporta was grabbing my left forearm with his left hand to keep me from bringing the radio to my mouth to broadcast the transmission. As Officer Hebert and I continued to fight with Zaporta, I saw Zaporta's hands go down towards my waistband. I then felt a tug on his right hip, where my department issued firearm and holster were located on my belt. I reached down to my right hip and discovered my firearm along with my holster was missing. I than observed my firearm in the right hand of Zaporta. At this moment, I yelled, “He’s got my gun! He’s got my gun!” Using my right hand, I pushed down on the top of Zaporta’s right hand, pinning the firearm between his hand and the driver’s seat. At this point, Zaporta’s body was facing down (his chest facing towards the driver’s seat). My chest was on the back of Zaporta’s pushing down, to keep him from moving within the vehicle. As I struggled to keep Zaporta from getting full control of my firearm, Zaporta reached into the center console with his left hand, between the drivers’ seat and the passenger seat, and appeared to be searching for another weapon or something to do harm. I continued to actively fight with Zaporta and grabbed onto his left wrist with my left hand. When I was able to gain control of Zaporta’s left hand, Zaporta then took his left hand and went down towards my firearm that was still on the front seat. At this point, I recall moving out of the vehicle and no longer had my hand on my firearm. I was just outside the driver’s door standing and I saw Zaporta with my firearm in his right hand. He was pointing the firearm directly at me. At the same time Zaporta appeared to be moving upward and forward in my direction. I feared that I was going to be seriously physically injured or killed. I began moving towards the rear of the Department of Transportation truck to avoid a discharge of the firearm. As I moved to avoid being shot by Zaporta, I yelled, “He’s got my gun! Shoot him!” From what I recollect I heard two to three gunshots at that very moment. I didn’t know who had fired the shots.”
“After the shots, I observed Zaporta lying prone on the ground. I then heard Detective Sherry yelling, “Get the gun!” and he was pointing to the firearm on the ground by Zaporta’s hand. I ran over to Zaporta and saw my firearm approximately six inches from his right hand. I grabbed my firearm, and secured it in the front right pocket of my jeans. I then handcuffed Zaporta with my handcuffs.”
Detective Perez
Det. Perez stated, among other things, “Detective Sherry and I were assigned to a “Hot Spot” detail that is primarily designed to combat Gun Violence throughout the City of Hartford.”
“On the above date, Detective Sherry was operating an unmarked police vehicle with police lights and sirens. I was seated in the front passenger seat of said vehicle and wearing plain clothes and was identifiable as a police officer with visible police patches and a badge.”
“At approximately 2053 hours [8:53 p.m.], Detective Sherry and I were driving on I-84 East near Capitol Avenue when we heard Officer Hebert, Officer Last, and Officer Prignano in Street Crimes unit #746 give out a description over the radio, of a suspect vehicle that had taken off on them during a motor vehicle stop. Officers in unit #746 radioed that the vehicle was heading towards the area of Capitol Avenue in the area of the I-84 West on ramp.”
Detective Perez stated, Detective Sherry and I where (sic) nearby the area and immediately drove towards the exit 48b Capitol Avenue off ramp from I-84 East, towards Capitol Avenue. Det. Sherry then turned towards I-84 west from Capitol Avenue and headed west on I-84.”
“On I-84 West from Capitol Avenue, I observed the suspect vehicle facing westbound on I-84. I then observed when Officer Hebert, Officer Last, and Officer Prignano in Unit #746 were trying to stop the driver of said vehicle from moving and causing harm to them or other civilians that were stuck in traffic during that time. I observed when the passenger of said vehicle opened the door and quickly moved towards Officer Prignano, who was standing near the rear passenger door. Fearing that Officer Prignano was in trouble, I immediately ran towards him to assist him. I approached Officer Prignano and the passenger of said vehicle, I then heard the passenger scream, ‘don’t shoot, don’t shoot I don’t want to die.’ The passenger immediately got to the ground and placed his hands behind his back. I immediately handcuffed the passenger and secured him. While handcuffing the passenger, I can hear other officers saying the driver of the vehicle had a gun.”
“As I reached down the passenger’s waistband area to pat him down for weapons, I heard officers yell, ‘Gun, Gun’, then I saw a struggle between driver and several Officers that where(sic) at the scene. Several seconds after that, I several gun shots that came from the driver's side area of the suspect vehicle. I immediately ran towards the area of the gun shots to check on all the Officers. When I got towards the rear of the vehicle, I observed Detective Sherry with his Police issued service weapon out. I then observed a medium complexion male down on the ground near the front driver side area of the suspect vehicle, facing face down on the pavement with wounds to his head.”
“I then radioed the Hartford Police Department dispatcher of the shots fired incident, their location, and that we needed an ambulance as soon as possible. I then assisted with securing the scene until assisting Officers and Supervisors arrived at the scene.”
Detective Sherry
“I, Detective Zack Sherry, am currently assigned to the Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Division and further assigned to the United States Marshal Violent Fugitive Task force. My primary objective is to serve active arrest warrants typically for violent offenders.”
“On Thursday, July 25, 2019, at approximately 2345 hours [9:45 p.m.] I assisted with the arrest of a juvenile. I requested a patrol car to come to the scene and transport the juvenile. Officer Jeff Gonzalez arrived shortly thereafter and transported the juvenile to the Hartford Police South Substation located at 134 Affleck Street.”
“After leaving the scene of the incident, we also went to the substation to complete the arrest process. While we were at the substation Officer Gonzalez received a telephone call from a concerned citizen who reported that someone he knew as Alphonso Zaporta was going to kill his children and their mother. The caller had information that Zaporta was driving a minivan with one fender that was a different color. The caller also stated that Zaporta was in possession of a firearm and had gone as far as telling the mother of his children that he was going to cut her head off along with the heads of their children. The concerned citizen did not know Zaporta’s whereabouts at the time so no attempts were made to locate him that night. Officer Gonzalez explained that Zaporta had two active arrest warrants for Domestic Violence incidents.”
“On Thursday, July 26, 2019 Detective Jose Perez and I were working a “Hotspot” detail which was specifically designed to combat violent crime focusing mostly on the northeast quadrant of the city. I was dressed in plain clothes and operating my unmarked vehicle, which is equipped with both emergency lights and a siren. At approximately 1700 hours [5:00 p.m.], I contacted Officer Gonzalez and explained to him that we were available to assist in apprehending Zaporta. I also requested that Officer Phelon, who is currently assigned to the Capitol City Crime Center, send me a Hartford Police Booking photo of Zaporta.”
“Perez and I were traveling eastbound on Interstate 84 with the intention of returning to their office. Officer Hebert, of the Street Crimes Unit, broadcast a radio transmission that they attempted to stop a vehicle that was registered to a party with the last name Zaporta. The operator, later identified as Alphonso Zaporta, failed to stop and fled. Officer Hebert stated that the vehicle had fled and was traveling eastbound on Capitol Avenue at a high rate of speed. Sergeant Chanaca, of the Street crimes unit also broadcast that Zaporta has active outstanding warrants. I also notified all involved that Zaporta might be in possession of a firearm. Following my broadcast, Officer Hebert reported that Zaporta had turned northbound onto the Interstate 84 westbound ramp off of Capitol Avenue. At this point Detective Perez and I were approaching the Capitol Avenue exit on Interstate 84 eastbound.”
“Officer Hebert notified all involved that there was stopped traffic on the ramp and that it appeared that Zaporta was going to be stuck in that traffic. I took the Capitol Avenue exit, drove to the end of the ramp and immediately got right back onto the westbound on ramp with his lights and siren activated. As we were approaching the end of the eastbound ramp and attempting to turn onto the westbound ramp, Officer Hebert broadcast that the vehicle operated by Zaporta almost struck him. As we approached the construction vehicles, I could see that Officer Hebert and Officer Last were in a physical altercation with Zaporta next to his vehicle.”
“I stopped my vehicle approximately 50 feet from Zaporta’s vehicle. I exited my vehicle and ran directly to the driver’s side of Zaporta’s vehicle and began to assist Officer Hebert and Officer Last in attempting to take Zaporta into custody. When I arrived at Zaporta’s vehicle, Zaporta was seated in the driver’s seat with his feet outside the vehicle and Officer Last had him in a headlock. I grabbed Zaporta’s right arm and attempted to pull him out of the vehicle but I was unable to do so because Zaporta was violently resisting. I lost his grip on his arm and Zaporta was able to pull himself and Officer Last into his vehicle. Once they were both inside the vehicle, Officer Last yelled twice, ‘he has my gun, he has my gun’. I yelled back to Officer Last, ‘Rocky, does he have your gun?’
Officer Prignano then grabbed both of Zaporta’s legs and pulled him out of the vehicle. When Zaporta was pulled from the vehicle I clearly observed that Zaporta had a firearm clutched in his hands. Zaporta was pointing or aiming the firearm directly towards Officer Last. Zaporta was facing away from me and landed on his elbows/forearms. In fear for my life and the lives of all the other officers and civilians in the zone of danger in the immediate area, I drew his firearm and fired three rounds in the direction of Zaporta. Zaporta immediately dropped the firearm. I immediately yelled to Officer Last to retrieve his firearm and then pulled Officer Prignano away from Zaporta because at this point I was not sure if he was still a danger. I then requested that one of the officers secure Zaporta into handcuffs.”
“Once Zaporta was secured, I requested an ambulance, code three. (HPD explanation of a "Code Three" is defined in the HPD General Orders as an "Urgent" response by EMS to the scene). I then yelled to the construction workers, who were just in front of the construction vehicles, to move the impeding traffic so that an ambulance could get to Zaporta without getting stuck in traffic. Shortly thereafter I was taken from the scene by Officer Fallon and driven to St. Francis Hospital.”
Marquis Treadwell seated in the passenger seat of the Nissan Maxima. His written statement said:
My name is Marquis Treadwell and I am at the Hartford Police HQ providing a voluntary statement to State Police about an incident that happened on Friday, [July 26, 2019]. On Friday at around 8pm I was on Park Street between Putnam and Aflick at the park heading to a bodega when a black Acura TL passed me. The Acura stopped quickly and backed up to me but I already knew who it was because he is the only guy with a TL, everyone else in the neighborhood has an RL. I know him as Alfonso or “Park Street” but don’t know what his last name is. I’ve known him for about 5 years between jail, mutual jobs at the Dollar Tree warehouse or the hanging in the neighborhood. When Alfonso pulled up to me and stopped he was telling me to get in the car with him. When he asked me to get into the car, I was a little hesitant about getting in because of his background with involvement in shootings and other issues. I had a gut feeling not to get in at that point but did anyway. We drive off from Park Street normally with music going on to Putnam then Putnam Heights into Park Terrace. We start talking where he initiates the conversation about what the neighborhood was saying about his drug use or if he had a sickness like AIDS. This wasn’t the first time I heard that rumor about his health because he had dropped a lot of weight like 100lbs. Alfonso used to be solid, big frame with big legs but now was like 150lbs, scrawny.
We took the right down park terrace all the way down the bottom of the hill and that’s when Alfonso pulls the car over. He didn’t say anything to me when he pulled over until I saw him looking in his driver side mirror. Then he said, let me see who this car is real quick.” Right then, flashing emergency lights turn on behind us. Alfonso takes a right onto Capitol Avenue, sideswiping another car at the light and we drive all the way down to the I-84 west ramp on the left. Alfonso was driving crazy at this point really fast, couldn’t even see the cops behind us anymore. I was telling Alfonso to let me out but he didn’t stop. We turned hard onto the 84 west ramp and Alfonso let go of the steering wheel for a second letting it spin, until he grabbed the wheel jerked back into the lane. I thought we were going to hit the barrier wall on the ramp. He said to me, “I got this” and took a sip of a half full bottle of Hennessey from between his legs. We are now on the 84 west ramp and get stopped because there was a DOT truck blocking the ramp right as another lane merges from the right. Alfonso starts honking his horn and back up and pulling forward aggressively at the DOT truck trying to make space to get through. I don’t know why Alfonso was trying to drive from the police because prior to them turning on their emergency lights, he was driving normally.
Police were outside of our car, one I remember was on the driver side front door with his gun pointing at Alfonso telling him to stop the vehicle but Alfonso wasn’t listening. Alfonso says “their trying to block us in” and then I hear a pop and air escaping as he is backing up again away from the DOT truck. He then hits a car behind us with two older ladies in it then pulls forward one last time. Alfonso starts screaming, “I’m ready to die, I’m ready to die” and hops out yelling this. I get out too with my hands up telling the police that I’m not ready to die and get on the ground with my hands behind my back. The officer gets on my back with his knee and I tell him that Alfonso wants to die. The officer says, “what?!” and leaves me on the ground as he runs over to the other officers. I’m not handcuffed at this point but I have two officers with me. Alfonso is outside the car at the backside of his car, wrestling with like seven police officers and was resisting them. Alfonso somehow pulls away from them and climbs back into the driver side of his car. From my point of view I can see through the vehicle because both front doors were open. I could tell that Alfonso was rustling through his car like he was looking for something but I couldn’t see what. While they are trying to get control of him, I could hear one of the officers yell, “he’s reaching for my gun.” Almost immediately after the police officer yelled that I heard one or two shots. I couldn’t tell who within that group of police shot but they all were wearing vests with “police” in yellow. I saw Alfonso on the ground with blood coming from his head after that. The officer that was with me, pulls me up and away to a cruiser that was behind everything that was going on. While in the car with Alfonso the whole time he never mentioned a gun, I never saw a gun but he was upset the whole time.
Sandra Bertrand seated inside a vehicle on the highway entrance ramp: She stated in a written statement:
"My name is Sandra Bertrand …. I was not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol at the time of this incident. I can read and write English as well. On [July 26, 2019] I was at Hartford Hospital visiting my boyfriend and I left the hospital at 9:08 p.m. I know this exact time because my GPS on my phone provided my departure time. My boyfriend's mom was also with me when I left the hospital …. I ended up on an on-ramp that was taking us onto I-84 west in Hartford, CT. When I drove down the ramp to enter the highway, I noticed town construction trucks on the highway ahead of me. One of the construction trucks blocked the on-ramp so that no traffic could pass through. The construction truck parked at a 45 degree angle. As I was stopped behind the truck, there was a car that came flying up on my left driver side. The car was blaring its horn and rapidly backing up and accelerating forward. The driver of that car appeared to be trying to get around the construction truck. While the driver was backing up and then accelerating forward, he struck my vehicle twice, I think. After the second time being struck by that vehicle, I began to see red and blue flashing lights around me and what appeared to be an officer go to the driver side of that car that was trying to get around the construction truck. I think he was an officer because he looked like he was in some type of uniform. This officer had his gun drawn and that was the only weapon that I saw. I don't know if he was knocking on the window or what he was doing, but it appeared that he was trying to get the driver out. It did not look like the driver was coming willfully out of the car. There appeared to be a struggle. I could tell that there was some force or resistance from the driver coming out of the car. I don't know how the driver got out of the car but eventually, he was out of it and on the ground. After the driver was on the ground, I heard a gunshot. The driver was on the ground before I heard the gunshot. The driver was face down and I believe he was wearing tan pants and white underwear. After I heard the shot, I freaked out and panicked. I also noticed that a black pick-up truck was ahead of me and to my right."
Dr. David Emmel seated in a vehicle on the highway entrance ramp:
Dr. Emmel stated in part that on July 26, 2019, he had dinner with his son in Hartford and did not consume any alcoholic beverages. Dr. Emmel stated that after dropping off his son, he proceeded to drive his vehicle, a 2015 Honda CRV, onto the Capitol Avenue on-ramp to I-84 west at approximately 9:10 p.m. As he drove around the curve of the ramp he observed a construction vehicle with a truck mounted attenuator parked on the left shoulder and then saw a similar construction vehicle pull up from the Asylum Avenue entrance ramp and stop where the Capitol and Asylum ramps merge. Dr. Emmel stated that he stopped his vehicle approximately 25 feet behind the two construction vehicles that were blocking traffic. Dr. Emmel stated there was a large pickup truck ahead of him to the right, which had entered from Asylum Avenue. Dr. Emmel stated that he had a clear, unobstructed view of the construction vehicles. Approximately one minute later, a late model black sedan sped down the left shoulder of the Capitol Avenue ramp, narrowly missing his car. The sedan cut in front of him and pulled up immediately behind the construction truck. The driver of the black sedan aggressively honked his horn, presumably in an effort to get the construction vehicle to move forward out of his way. Dr. Emmel stated that the black sedan then began to back up, once again narrowly missing his car. At this point, the Capitol Avenue ramp had filled with police cruisers with lights flashing. Dr. Emmel did not recall hearing sirens. Dr. Emmel stated the black sedan immediately drove forward and stopped behind the construction vehicle on the right and that within two seconds, approximately six to eight clearly marked police officers ran past both sides of his car and up to the black sedan, surrounding it. Dr. Emmel did not recall if the officers running towards the black sedan had their firearms drawn. Dr. Emmel had the windows up in his vehicle and did not hear the officers yelling any commands. Dr. Emmel said his attention was focused on the driver side of the black sedan where it appeared a police officer had managed to open the door and make three attempts to pull the driver out of the vehicle. Each attempt lasted approximately one to two seconds. At this point Dr. Emmel heard “pop, pop, pop, pop” in uniform sequence, which he believed to be gunshots. Immediately after, the driver of the black sedan was pulled out of the vehicle and onto the roadway where he was placed into a prone position and left motionless for a few minutes. Dr. Emmel stated that one police officer appeared to pat the man’s right thigh and that the man was then cuffed with both hands behind his back. Dr. Emmel did not recall seeing anyone render first aid and no further attention was paid to the person, who showed no signs of movement. Dr. Emmel stated he did not call 911 to report the incident because there was a large police presence already on scene, including an officer who instructed him to back out using the Asylum Avenue entrance ramp. Dr. Emmel said that while watching the news at home later that night, he saw that the State Police were investigating the incident.
Lauren Hass seated inside a vehicle on the highway entrance ramp. The relevant excerpts from her written statement follow:
"On [July 26, 2019] I was at the Hartford Yard Goats stadium with Randon Hogan watching the game and we decided to leave during the game to go to J. Timothy’s. We parked Randon’s Dodge truck which is black on the side street near the Tavern. We got in the truck around 9 p.m. because we had to walk a little bit from the stadium to the truck. We drove from the street heading towards I-84 west and Plainville and were at the stoplight for Spruce Street and Asylum Street when a DOT truck pulled onto the westbound ramp blocking the road. We were behind the DOT truck stopped on the ramp when another older dark colored car coming from the Capitol Avenue direction attempted to merge into our lane. The older car started honking its horn immediately upon getting into the lane. Randon began to back up his truck to give the older car some space. The older car kept going back and forth quickly. The passenger jumped out and put up his hands saying something like “I’m not with him” directing it to the car behind him. There may have been a police car behind us. The older car backed up one final time and it sounded like he hit the car behind him but I couldn’t see. I could see the passenger of the older car because the window was down prior to him getting out. The passenger looked Hispanic, maybe around 30 years old, loose braided hair maybe with a du-rag, zip up hoody red and checkered design, jeans hanging so you could see his underwear. The police were there almost immediately as the passenger had jumped out waving his arms. I could see the emergency lights from their police car approaching from behind us. I saw two police officers in jeans with Police vests handcuff the passenger from the right side of our truck. The passenger was being cooperative with police when being handcuffed. As the passenger was being handcuffed, I heard one gun shot and then a second shortly after that were coming from behind on our left. I looked over to the left because I wasn’t sure where the shots were coming from but couldn’t see anything due to my position in the truck. I then saw a couple, maybe two or three police run up on the left and handcuff the driver of the older vehicle who was face down on the ground bleeding from his head. I never saw the driver of the older car get out prior to being shot but he must have been. More police started to show up at that point. I couldn’t tell and didn’t see who fired the two shots I heard. We were asked by Police to back our truck up and if we could come back to provide a statement of what we saw."
Randon Hogan seated inside a vehicle on the highway entrance ramp, provided a statement:
"My name is Randon Hogan and I am currently employed by the Farmington, CT Police Department as a police officer and have been employed by them for about the last 5 1/2 years. Prior to that, I was a Torrington, CT Police Officer for five years. I also have a bachelor’s degree from Post University. I am not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. On [July 26, 2019] about a little bit after 9:00 PM, my date and I had just left the Yard Goats game in my personal vehicle. We left the game and went towards, I-84 west when a DOT truck pulled in front of us with all its flashing lights on and the crash thing on the back. There was one DOT truck that was in the left shoulder and another that parked at a 45-degree angle and closed the ramp down so that no traffic could pass through. There was no one in front of us and we were directly behind the truck at a 45-degree angle. We were stopped behind the DOT truck for a short time when all of a sudden, a black sedan that drew my attention because of its speed passed me and was blaring the horn. The black sedan was right next to me, if I had opened my door, I would have hit it. At this point, the passenger looked over at me and I saw him. My truck is a Dodge Ram and my driver and passenger side windows were down. The passenger was a male, who appeared to be Hispanic in a white t-shirt and he was heavy set. He looked like he had the "deer in the headlights" look. I noticed that the passenger was making furtive movements, as in his hands were moving around the center area of the car and his shoulders were dipping down. The driver continuously blared the horn. Then, the driver was moving backwards and forwards and then backed up a good distance. The DOT truck then began to move and close the gap between the truck and the wall. At this point, I believe that I began to hear a siren. The black sedan then pulled back up in front of my vehicle and Hartford officers began to converge on the black sedan on foot. I did not see any blue or red lights. The officers were easily identifiable. I could see the word "Police" on their clothing and they were shouting "Police." It appeared that the officers were wearing some type of tactical vests. The officers went to both the driver and passenger side and were shouting, "Police, show me your hands." While the Hartford officers were outside the black sedan, the driver of it began to drive in reverse about a car length and a half and then stopped. Then, the vehicle accelerated towards were the Hartford officers were left standing. The vehicle stopped again, and I heard more yelling. The vehicle had stopped almost directly in front of me now and I could clearly see the majority of the driver side of the black sedan. The driver door opened, and I could see the officers trying to get the driver out of the car. The passenger got out of the car with his hands up and said something along the lines of, "This is crazy, I want nothing to do with this" and he complied. I heard one of the officers yell something about a gun and I could tell there was still a struggle going on at the driver side. Eventually, I saw that the officers had to pull the driver out of the vehicle and in his right hand, I saw the driver holding a gun. The driver was on the ground while he was being pulled away from the sedan, holding a gun. As the driver was being pulled away from the car by the officers, I heard about two or three gunshots. I can't remember exactly, but to the best of my knowledge, I exited my truck after the shots were fired and identified myself as a police officer. I also inquired if the driver needed any medical attention. My truck was not damaged in this incident and I was not injured."
Rodrigo Goncalves-Dacruz/Edmelson Barbosa (Construction Workers) provided the following information (Edmelson Barbosa could not speak English. Goncalves-Dcruz gave the statement but verified with Barbosa on what he saw and heard):
"Our names are Rodrigo Goncalves-Dacruz and Edmelson Barbosa and we are currently both employed by Middlesex Corporation out of Littleton, MA. Edmelson has been with the company for 16 years and I (Rodrigo) have been employed with them for about the last three years. Neither of us are under the influence of any drugs or alcohol during the time of this incident. On [July 26, 2019] at around 8:30 p.m., we got set up and began working. Edmelson and I were working together in a lift basket and we were facing the highway, working on the piers of the bridge. We both had earplugs in because we were grinding concrete. I began to hear a lot of sirens so I turned around and looked. I also saw a bunch of cops so Edmelson and I began to lower the lift down to the ground to see what was going on. As we were about halfway down to the ground, I heard about three or four shots that sounded like gunshots. When we got onto the ground, Edmelson hid behind a pier and I jumped the barrier wall and then ran to the superintendent’s truck. When I got to the superintendent’s truck, Tim, who was in a different crash truck told us what happened. He told us that the police were trying to take a guy out of a car and that the "guy" was trying to reach for something and the officer shot him."
Cecille Zaporta owner of the Nissan that Alphonso Zaporta was driving at the time of the incident
Cecille Zaporta is the owner of the 2010 Nissan Maxima that Mr. Zaporta was driving at the time he was shot. She provided a signed, written statement to EDMCS detectives on July 31, 2019. C. Zaporta stated, among other things, that she was the first cousin to Alphonso Zaporta, and that they grew up together she thought of him as a brother. C. Zaporta explained that she was not certain were Alphonso was living but explained that he would have his mail sent to his sisters address in Windsor. C. Zaporta was not aware if Alphonso was part of a street gang. C. Zaporta said that Alphonso was married to Maribel Quinones/Torres but they had been separated for a while. C. Zaporta said that she is the owner of a 2010 Nissan Maxima and on Friday, July 26, 2019, at about 4:38 p.m., she received a call from Alphonso asking if he could use her car. They agreed to meet in New Britain at about 6:30 p.m. C. Zaporta said that Alphonso arrived in a car and his girlfriend; (unknown name) also arrived in a separate car. C. Zaporta said that she had allowed Alphonso to use her back in 2015. C. Zaporta said that Alphonso told her that he was going to return her car that night. C. Zaporta said that Alphonso did not tell her directly why he needed her car but had a comment that his wife was following him so he wanted to switch cars.
Jamie Winter-Brown was found to be in a romantic relationship with Alphonso Zaporta
During an initial interview, Winter-Browne said she was involved with Mr. Zaporta and at one time she was in her Red Kia with him when he shot a pistol out the window of the car in Hartford. Winter-Browne was not willing to give a statement at this time but met with EDMC detectives on Sunday August 4, 2019. She stated, among other things, that she is married to Todd Browne and they are not talking because of his arrest in July of 2019. J. Winter-Browne said that she is battling with heroin and has been on and off of methadone treatments. Winter-Browne explained that in June she went to Lawrence Street in Hartford and bought heroin from Alphonso Zaporta. J. Winter-Browne said that she and Mr. Zaporta became friends and then were romantically involved. J. Winter-Browne said that the first two weeks she was with him, Mr. Zaporta was really nice and they agreed that he would move into her house in East Granby for $400.00 a month. She then noticed that when Mr. Zaporta would drink alcohol he would become violent. When Mr. Zaporta lived at her house, he choked her and one time pointed a gun at her. She was aware that Mr. Zaporta was married and had a girlfriend named Maria Nunez. J. Winter-Browne said Mr. Zaporta liked to drink Hennessey and do the drug “molly.” On July 9, 2019, around 6:00 p.m., she and Mr. Zaporta were driving around Hartford in her Red Kia, which was a loner. Mr. Zaporta took out a gray colored handgun and started to shoot it out the passenger window in the area of Lawrence and Russ streets. She thought he shot about seven times from the passenger window as she was in the front passenger seat. The gun was right in front of her face when he shot out the window. She thought he was upset with another drug dealer named “Jerry” who had introduced another man to his wife. J. Winter-Browne stated that Mr. Zaporta moved out of her house around July 10, 2019, and was staying house to house. They stayed in contact with each other. J. Winter-Browne said that Mr. Zaporta would keep his gun at his daughter’s house and when he needed the gun he would get it and keep it under the seat of the car he was driving. Mr. Zaporta told her many times he was not going back to jail and if the police stopped him he would run and if he could not run he would fight and try to grab the officer’s gun because he wanted to die. J. Winter-Browne said she was not certain of the exact words he used but said things like that many times. J. Winter-Browne said on Friday, July 26, 2019, at around 9:00 a.m. she picked up Mr. Zaporta and drove him to his mother’s house, where Winter-Browne stayed in the car while A. Zaporta went inside. Winter-Browne said he returned to the car in about 10 minutes and he asked her to buy him vodka. After vodka they went back to her house in East Granby and he fell asleep. Winter-Browne said she left her house at about 1:30-2:00 p.m. and as she drove down Route 20 she crashed her car and was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. J. Winter-Browne said that after hearing what happened to Mr. Zaporta on the news, she believes the gun found in the car he was driving was the gun he had shot out the window of his car on July 9, 2019. She said she had seen him point his gun at other people and other people have pointed guns at him.
Maria Nunez was found to be in a romantic relationship with Alphonso Zaporta
Investigators determined that Maria Nunez was Alphonso Zaporta’s girlfriend who lived in New Britain and worked at a bakery on Park Street in Hartford. On August 8, 2019, Nunez agreed to an interview at State Police Troop H in Hartford. Trooper Bugatti translated for Nunez, although it was apparent that she was able to understand some English, but not speak it. Nunez explained that she met Mr. Zaporta in March/April of 2018 and they dated off and on. He was a customer at the bakery where she worked. Nunez said she was aware that Mr. Zaporta was married. She was not aware of Zaporta having any other girlfriends, but was now finding out he had many. Nunez said Mr. Zaporta would stay at her apartment off and on. In the beginning of June 2019, Mr. Zaporta's ex-wife, Maribel Quinones, showed up at Nunez’s apartment pretending to be someone else. Nunez confronted Mr. Zaporta about the situation the next day and told her he was going to kill her and her daughter. Nunez said she went to Hartford court and was given a restraining order against Mr. Zaporta from June to July of 2019. Nunez explained about a week or two prior to his death, she noticed that Zaporta was very depressed and he was crying a lot. He would not even talk to his son or his mother. Mr. Zaporta told her he had a feeling he was going to die because he was tired of his wife following him. She said the last three days before his death were very difficult for him. His wife was in the parking lot of her apartment and she called Nunez’s job. Mr. Zaporta’s wife threatened to call the police on him all the time. He felt he could not feel relaxed and she was putting pressure on him. Nunez said that on July 7, 2019, Mr. Zaporta’s wife sent her a message saying she was going to send the police to her house to get him and say that he was a pedophile and had blown up three tires on Quinones's car. Quinones told Nunez to be careful with Mr. Zaporta around her daughter. Quinones accused Mr. Zaporta of being a woman abuser and that she can have him all for herself. Nunez said that on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, Quinones was in her parking lot. Mr. Zaporta called her and said his wife called the police on him. Mr. Zaporta also saw his wife in the parking lot. Nunez said that on Thursday, July 25, 2019, at around 4:00 p.m., Quinones called her job and left a message with a co-worker saying, "Tell your boyfriend to stop following me in the red car with the pistol." Nunez said she did not know anything about a pistol and that Mr. Zaporta never talked with her about personal things. Nunez said Mr. Zaporta said that his relationship with her made him a better person and that she never saw him with any weapons. Nunez said Quinones is still bothering her and calls constantly. Quinones told her that she hopes she dies from cancer. Nunez told Quinones to leave her alone, but she will not. On August 6, 2019, someone threw a rock at the bakery and broke the window. Nunez believed Quinones sent someone to do that because she had just threatened her. Nunez said Mr. Zaporta was out of control on alcohol the last two days before his death. He only drank Hennessy and Tequila. He also smoked marijuana casually. When Mr. Zaporta drank, he would get very violent. Nunez would ask him to leave if he was drinking. Nunez said that Mr. Zaporta started losing weight when he started working in a freezer in a factory in Bloomfield, which was around March, April and May. He stopped working in May and did not get another job. Nunez said she gave Mr. Zaporta her credit card to use to support himself because she cared about him. She said she did not want to see him have to sell drugs for money. Nunez said she was not aware if Mr. Zaporta ever sold drugs. Nunez said that she does not know if Mr. Zaporta was in a gang. She knew he had gang tattoos on him but that they were from when he was younger. Nunez said that in the 1990s he was in a gang, but she didn't know which gang. His nickname was "Park Street." Nunez said that on July 26, 2019, she went to work at 6:30 a.m. Mr. Zaporta slept over and was still at her apartment when she left. At around 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. Mr. Zaporta came to visit her at work, driving her red Honda Accord. He said he was going to see his mother at her house. Mr. Zaporta left Nunez’s car in the parking lot and was picked up by someone. Nunez did not know who. At around 10:00 a.m., Mr. Zaporta called her crying because he went to his mother's house looking for emotional support and his mother told him he was a crackhead. Nunez said she did not know where Mr. Zaporta was from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and her car was still at the bakery. She saw him at 3:00 p.m. on Prospect Avenue in Hartford when they left in her car. Mr. Zaporta told her he wanted to get some drinks and stated, "This is the last day of my life." Nunez thought he was joking and did not think it was a big deal. They stopped at a liquor store in Hartford and bought a bottle of Hennessy and she got two nips of black label. They used her credit card that he had. They drank in her car. Mr. Zaporta said she had to drink with him because it was his last day alive. He knew he was going to go to jail because he knew there were warrants against him and he did not want to go to jail. He said he had spent 17 years in jail and that was enough. Nunez said she then drove a black Honda Odyssey and Mr. Zaporta drove her car to Walgreen's in New Britain. They were going there because Mr. Zaporta wanted to switch cars. He knew the police were looking for him. The day before, Quinones had told Mr. Zaporta she filed a complaint with the police and there was a warrant for his arrest. When they got to Walgreen's, they went to Mr. Zaporta's sister or cousin (she did not know her name) who had a black Nissan, possibly a Maxima or Altima. Mr. Zaporta drove the Nissan while the female drove Nunez’s red Honda Accord.
Mr. Zaporta did this knowing the police were looking for him. Then they went to Nunez’s apartment at around 6:00 p.m. At around 7:00 p.m., Mr. Zaporta left her apartment in the Nissan. He said "goodbye" and that he was going to die and to forgive him for having all the girls. Mr. Zaporta said that she was going to see on the news that he died. Nunez said she did not think he was serious. That was the last time she saw Mr. Zaporta. That night, after Mr. Zaporta left, Quinones had called the police and sent them to Nunez’s apartment and the bakery where she worked. Once Quinones found out that Mr. Zaporta was involved with Nunez, she made a complaint to the police about something that had happened 20 days prior. The next day at around 6:30 a.m., Nunez sent Mr. Zaporta a text to call her but he never did. Nunez then started calling him and there was no answer. Because he did not answer, and she remembered what he last said, she thought maybe he had killed himself. She then looked on the news and someone translated for her that he was killed by police in Hartford. She found out from the news that Zaporta had taken the pistol from the officer. Nunez said that Mr. Zaporta told her he went to jail for drugs and having a gun in the past. She did not know anything else about him being arrested. Again, she said she never saw Zaporta with a gun. When Mr. Zaporta drank, he would hit her. This happened twice and she did not call the police.
There were two separate active warrants for the arrest of Alphonso Zaporta at the time of this incident. Both warrants were the result of investigation by Hartford police. One was signed on January 14, 2019, for an incident on January 4, 2019, on charges of Strangulation in the 2nd Degree (Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) §53a-64aa, Threatening in the 2nd Degree, (CGS §53a-62) and Disorderly Conduct (CGS §53a-182). The other warrant was signed June 12, 2019, for an incident that on June 6, 2019. The charges were Breach of Peace in the 2nd Degree (CGS §53a-181), Threatening in the 2nd Degree (CGS §53a-62) and Harassment in the Second Degree (CGS §53a-183). Both warrants were active on July 26, 2019, and involved domestic violence complaints from different females naming Alphonso Zaporta as an ex-boyfriend.
Alphonso Zaporta had 10 arrests, which led to 13 convictions starting on April 19, 1994.The criminal record shows felony convictions, including a conviction in 1996 for Assault in the 1st Degree, (CGS §59), for which Mr. Zaporta received a sentence of 138 months to serve, and a conviction in 2009 for Burglary in the 1st Degree (CGS §53a-101) and Illegal Possession of an Assault Weapon (CGS § 53-202c), for which Mr. Zaporta received a sentence of 15 years, execution suspended after 8 years, and 3 years of probation. Mr. Zaporta was last released from the Department of Correction on March 12, 2018.
Research was conducted into the background of the officer/detectives involved in this incident.
Detective Sherry has not been involved in a prior police involved shooting. Similarly, Officers Last, Hebert and Prignano, and Detective Perez have not been previously involved in a police involved shooting. None of the officers were involved in any of Mr. Zaporta’s prior arrests.
Law Regarding Deadly Force by Police Officers
The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether the use of deadly force by Detective Sherry was appropriate under CGS §53a-22.
Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-22(c) provides:
“A Peace Officer. . . is justified in using deadly physical force upon another person for the purposes specified in Subsection (b) of this section only when he reasonably believes such to be necessary to: (1) Defend himself or a third person from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force; or (2) Effect an arrest or prevent the escape from custody of a person whom he reasonably believes has committed or attempted to commit a felony which involved the infliction or threatened infliction of serious physical injury and if, where feasible, he has given warning of his intent to use deadly physical force.”
Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-22(b) provides:
“Except as provided by subsection (a) of this Section, a Peace Officer. . . is justified in using physical force upon another person when and to the extent that he reasonable believes such to be necessary to: (1) Effect an arrest or prevent the escape from custody of a person whom he reasonably believes to have committed an offense, unless he knows that the arrest or custody is unauthorized; or (2) Defend himself or a third person from the use or imminent use of physical force while attempting to effect an arrest or while preventing or attempting to prevent an escape.”
Consequently, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-22(c)(1), a police officer may use deadly force when he reasonably believes the use of such force is necessary to defend himself or another from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force. The test is both subjective and objective. First, the officer must believe that the use of deadly force is necessary to defend himself or another from the imminent use of deadly physical force. Second, that belief must be objectively reasonable. See State v. Prioleau, 235 Conn. 274(1995).
The test is not whether it was in fact necessary for the officer to use deadly physical force in order to defend against the imminent use of deadly physical force. The test is whether the officer believed such to be the case, and whether such belief was objectively reasonable, based on the facts and circumstances known to the officer at the time the decision to use deadly force was made. See State v. Silveira, 198 Conn 454 (1986); State v. Adams, 52 Conn. App. 643 (1999).
The United States Supreme Court explained this test in detail in a civil rights action.
“The ‘reasonableness’ of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene rather than the 20/20 vision of hindsight. . . The calculus of reasonableness must embody allowance to the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second judgments---in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving---about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation.” Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 109 S. CT 1865, 104 L. Ed. 2d 443 (1989).
Based upon a review of all of the information available, including all of the police reports, witness statements, video evidence, audio evidence, Medical Examiner’s post-mortem report, reports from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services, as well as a review of the scene itself, it is found that Officers Last, Hebert, and Prignano of the Hartford Police Department Street Crimes Unit were together in an HPD vehicle at approximately 8:50 p.m., on July 26, 2019, in the area of Lawrence Street in Hartford. They saw an individual they believed to be involved in a shooting incident on Lawrence Street 17 days earlier. This individual was Alphonso Zaporta, who also had two outstanding warrants for his arrest in unrelated incidents. After seeing who they believed to be Mr. Zaporta, the officers lost sight of him. The officers then saw a dark sedan (a Nissan Maxima) leave a driveway on Lawrence Street at a high rate of speed. A registration check revealed the car was registered to a woman in Windsor with the last name of Zaporta. After following this vehicle on to Park Street, Putnam Height and then Park Terrace, the Maxima pulled over and its hazard lights came on. Alphonso Zaporta was later identified as the driver and Marquis Treadwell as the front seat passenger. Officer Last, who was driving the HPD vehicle, turned on this vehicle’s emergency lights. The Maxima sped away at a high rate of speed turning onto Capitol Avenue and then onto the entrance ramp to Interstate 84. The officers followed at a slower speed, without emergency lights and siren until proceeding through the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Broad Street, at which point the emergency lights and siren were activated. The officers followed the Maxima onto the entrance ramp. There was construction work under way and crews had temporarily shut down the entrance ramp with traffic cones and large trucks. There is also an entrance ramp to Interstate 84 from Asylum Street that merges with the ramp from Capitol Avenue. Mr. Zaporta drove the Maxima onto the ramp, weaving in between other motorists who had stopped for the construction crews. The officers following the Maxima relayed their location via radio as the incident unfolded.
Detective Sherry, driving a HPD/U.S. Marshal vehicle with Detective Perez as his passenger, heard via the HPD radio the events as they were unfolding. Detective Sherry and Detective Perez proceeded onto the entrance ramp.
As Officers Last, Prignano and Hebert closed in on the Maxima, Mr. Zaporta’s progress was slowed considerably by the construction and stopped vehicles. Yet, he continued to try to maneuver around these vehicles, eventually striking another vehicle stopped in traffic. Officer Hebert was the first out of the HPD vehicle and utilized a Stop Stick to deflate the tires on the Maxima. Mr. Zaporta continued to try to drive any way, striking one of the construction vehicles. When the Maxima could not move any further, and as Officer Hebert with his HPD firearm out approached the driver’s door, Mr. Zaporta swung the door open and lunged towards Officer Hebert, grabbing the top portion of Officer Hebert’s firearm, seemingly trying to pull it away from him. Officer Hebert was able to break Mr. Zaporta’s grip on his firearm and eventually re-holstered the firearm. Meanwhile, Officer Prignano approached the passenger side of the Maxima. Mr. Treadwell got out of the vehicle with hands up and was compliant as Officer Prignano took him to the ground and handcuffed him with the assistance of Detective Perez, who had arrived by this point with Detective Sherry.
Officer Last approached the struggle taking place on the driver’s side of the Maxima between Officer Hebert and Mr. Zaporta. Officer Last was able to get his right arm around Mr. Zaporta’s neck, pulling him away from Officer Hebert, who now tried to utilize his police baton but with no effect. It appeared as though Mr. Zaporta was trying to return to Maxima at this point. As Officer Last was struggling with Mr. Zaporta, Officer Last was trying to utilize his HPD radio in his left hand, but Mr. Zaporta prevented him from doing so. Detective Sherry joined the struggle, pulling on Mr. Zaporta’s right arm to prevent him from getting into the car. With Officer Last and Mr. Zaporta half in the car, Officer Last felt a pull on his waistband. He reached down to his right hip and realized his firearm and holster were not there. Officer Last saw his firearm in Mr. Zaporta’s hand and yelled “He’s got my gun, he’s got my gun.” Officer Last indicated that he tried to push down with his chest on Mr. Zaporta’s back and tried to push Mr. Zaporta onto the driver’s seat, thereby trying to prevent Mr. Zaporta from using the gun. Officer Last indicated that he was struggling to control Mr. Zaporta, who was reaching with his left hand towards the floor by the driver’s seat. Officer Last indicated that he eventually lost his grip on Mr. Zaporta, who still had control of Officer Last’s gun. Officer Last indicated that he moved out of the vehicle and saw that Mr. Zaporta was pointing the Officer Last’s firearm at him. Officer Prignano proceeded to the driver’s side and joined the struggle, eventually grabbing Mr. Zaporta around the legs and pulling him out of the vehicle as Officer Last was getting out of the vehicle.
Detective Sherry, hearing Officer Last scream, “He’s got my gun, he’s got my gun,” yelled back “Rocky (Officer Last’s first name), does he have your gun?” As Mr. Zaporta was being pulled out of the vehicle by Officer Prignano, Detective Sherry indicated that he saw Mr. Zaporta with a firearm in his hands, pointing it at Officer Last. Although Mr. Zaporta was not standing at this point, he had in his hand(s), Officer Last’s firearm. Detective Sherry indicated that he feared for his life and the lives of his fellow officers and the civilians in the area and, therefore, drew his firearm fired in the direction of Mr. Zaporta. Mr. Zaporta immediately dropped the firearm he was holding. In the mere seconds that this incident unfolded, Detective Sherry’s fears were entirely reasonable considering Mr. Zaporta’s actions to that point. Hesitating could have been, and would likely have been, a fatal mistake for Detective Sherry.
Mr. Zaporta was struck three times by rounds fired by Detective Sherry, tragically resulting in his death.
Immediately after the shooting, Detective Sherry yelled for someone to retrieve the firearm from Mr. Zaporta’s reach, and he pulled Officer Prignano away from Mr. Zaporta. Calls via the HPD radio were immediately made to summon EMS and additional personnel to the scene.
A firearm was recovered from the driver’s side floor area of the Maxima. The firearm was reported stolen from Springfield, Massachusetts, earlier in 2019. This firearm was linked to a shooting incident on Lawrence Street on July 9, 2019, which Mr. Zaporta was suspected of committing.
Finally, Mr. Zaporta previously made statements to three individuals that, combined with his actions, give insight to his intent on July 26, 2019. Mr. Zaporta said “July 26, 2019 was going to be the last day of his life,” that “he was not going back to jail,” “and if the cops stopped him, he would run, and if he could not run, he would fight and try to grab the officer’s gun because he wanted to die,” and that “he was ready to die.”
Therefore, based upon the facts as set forth in this investigation, Detective Sherry reasonably believed that the use of deadly force was necessary to defend Officer Last, himself and fellow officers and civilians in the immediate area from the imminent use of deadly physical force from Mr. Zaporta. The use of deadly force by Detective Sherry was entirely appropriate under Connecticut General Statutes §53-22.
Accordingly, the Division of Criminal Justice will take no further action.
Matthew C. Gedansky
State’s Attorney,
Judicial District of Tolland
Appendix
Connecticut General Statutes § 51-277a
Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-22
Connecticut Forensic Laboratory Reports
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Report
Hartford Police Department Officer/Detective Reports
Officer Body Worn Camera Footage
Officer Last’s BWC, was marked “Officer Last mp4 2019-07-27 1:13 :16Z Axon Body 2 X81325141
Hartford Police Department Radio Transmissions