UPDATE
STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE WETHERSFIELD POLICE SHOOTING
On 11/06/07 shortly after 12:30 p.m. Wethersfield Police received a 911 call from the Food Bag Store on Silas Deane Highway reporting that a suspicious person had been in the store and that he appeared to be covered in blood. It was reported that the suspicious male was exiting the store.
A Wethersfield Police Officer responded to the area and encountered the suspicious person approximately ¼ mile from the store. The male suspect observed the police officer and he pulled a handgun out and began to point it in the direction of the first responding police officer.
The officer requested additional police assistance as he took cover and attempted to verbally order the suspect to surrender his weapon. Back up Wethersfield Police Officers arrived and continuously ordered the suspect numerous times to disarm himself. The suspect refused to comply with the officers demands and the suddenly the suspect raised his weapon pointing the weapon at the officers who at that time were forced to fire their service weapons at the suspect.
The male suspect was severely wounded. He was provided emergency care at the scene and was transported to Hartford Hospital via ambulance where he was pronounced dead.
Wethersfield police officers secured the shooting scene. At the request of Police Chief James Cetran and the New Britain State’s Attorney’s office, the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad responded to conduct an investigation into this police shooting.
The deceased is identified as CHAPDELAINE, Gerard, DOB: 11/16/67, LKA 51 Bolton St., Hartford, Ct. The Office of the Chief State’s Medical Examiner conducted a post mortem examination of the deceased and determined the deceased died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Investigative information has been received by State Police Detectives & Wethersfield Police that indicates that this deceased was involved in a shooting incident that is presently under investigation by Hartford Police. The police departments will share any investigative information uncovered during both investigations
The two police officers involved in this shooting have been assigned to administrative duty pending the completion of the investigation. The two Police Officers are identified as Officer Ronald Floyd, a3-year veteran of the Wethersfield Police Department, and Officer Anthony DeMonte, a 6-year veteran of the department.
The State Police investigation is continuing.
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Lt. J. Paul Vance
