Three to be charged after Derby shooting, pursuit and crash

DERBY — Three individuals are expected to be charged after a shooting Monday that led to a pursuit, a crash on the highway and a foot pursuit, according to police.

Derby officers responded to the area of Hawkins Street near Seventh Street for a report of multiple gunshots around 4:40 p.m. Monday, police said Tuesday.

Witnesses and video surveillance showed a white Kia sport utility vehicle fleeing the scene after the gunshots.

Earlier Monday, Derby police had learned a 2011 white Kia SUV reported stolen out of Shelton was parked alongside a second vehicle in the city and officers were dispatched to the area. When officers got there, both vehicles fled. Officers briefly pursued the second vehicle.

As detectives were investigating the shooting, the same Kia drove back through the area and officers tried to stop the driver. Police said officers pursued the vehicle onto Route 8 North.

The driver crashed on Route 8 at the Exit 22 offramp. The engine caught fire after the crash.

Police said three males fled the crash on foot. A fourth passenger, identified by police as a 17-year-old Derby resident, was removed from the vehicle by an officer.

“As the police were removing the juvenile from the vehicle, the officer heard a loud thud that was later determined to be one of the fleeing suspects being struck by an unrelated vehicle traveling on Wakeley Street,” police said.

The 18-year-old Derby resident was immediately taken into custody by a responding Oxford police officer. He was taken to Waterbury Hospital with minor injuries.

Connecticut State Police K-9 teams and Seymour police helped Derby police try to track down the other two people but were unable to find them.

Seymour police said the two individuals were considered “armed and dangerous,” urging anyone who spotted anything suspicious to call 911.

Then around 10 p.m., a 15-year-old Derby boy showed up at Griffin Hospital’s emergency department. Derby police said the teen complained of injuries from a motor vehicle accident.

Police said the teen’s clothing matched that of one of the two suspects who fled from the earlier crash on Route 8.

“Due to injuries and hospital treatment, charges are pending for all three of the suspects and will be done by warrant,” police said.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call 203-735-7811, ext. 0. Callers can remain anonymous.