3 minNews
Two Connecticut officers wounded, suspect killed after chase ends in gunfire
Two Connecticut police officers were shot and a suspect was killed late Friday after an attempted arrest escalated into a car chase and exchange of gunfire near Hartford, authorities said.
Two Connecticut police officers were shot and a suspect was killed late Friday after an attempted arrest escalated into a car chase and exchange of gunfire near Hartford, authorities said. The wounded officers were identified as Hartford Police Officer Alex Diaz and Rocky Hill Police Officer Jon Escobar. Both were taken to a hospital following the shooting and were later released, according to local authorities.
Hartford police said Diaz was released from the hospital Saturday and was recovering at home. A gun was recovered at the scene, police said. The incident began at about 11:07 p.m., when Hartford officers were investigating what the department described as illegal activity and a male suspect ran from the scene. An officer chased the suspect and attempted to take him into custody. During a struggle, the officer felt what he believed was a gun in the suspect's waistband, according to Hartford police.
The suspect managed to get into a car and drive away, prompting officers to chase him through the city as information about the vehicle was shared with surrounding police departments. The chase eventually reached Webster Court in Newington, a town south of Hartford near the Rocky Hill town line. After the suspect got out of the car, there was an exchange of gunfire that left two officers wounded and the suspect dead, police said.
Authorities have not publicly identified the suspect or provided additional details about the activity Hartford officers were investigating before the attempted arrest. The circumstances surrounding the exchange of gunfire, including which officers fired their weapons, remain under investigation. The Connecticut Office of Inspector General is investigating the use of deadly force. Hartford police referred questions about the investigation to the Office of Inspector General, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The investigation remains ongoing. The shooting is the latest in a series of incidents in the region involving police gunfire, and it underscores the dangers officers face during routine investigations that can quickly escalate into violent confrontations.
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