Police: Teen fled deadly domestic violence shooting to call 911

SIMSBURY — A teen escaped a home where police say two people died in a domestic violence shooting Sunday.

Deputy Police Chief Chris Davis said his department received a call around 5:20 p.m. for a reported shooting at a Woodleigh Place home in Weatogue. Davis classified the incident as a domestic violence shooting.

Davis said an 18-year-old woman, who was identified as a “family member from inside that residence,” witnessed the shooting and fled the home, running to a neighbor to call police.

Davis said officers found a woman injured in the home. Davis said the woman, later identified as 57-year-old Linda Halligan, was carried to an ambulance by officers and taken to St. Francis Hospital, where she died.

As officers investigated, Davis said, a major police presence descended on the neighborhood to search the residence for another individual believed to be inside. That individual, identified by Davis as 59-year-old Bernard Halligan Jr., was later found dead in the garage of the home.

Davis said it appears one person shot the other, but detectives are investigating the circumstances of the incident.

“It’s a very safe community,” Davis said. “These types of incidents can happen anywhere.”

Simsbury police said neighboring agencies, including the North Central Emergency Services Team, North Central Crisis Negotiation Team and Connecticut State Police, also responded to help with the investigation.

“At this time, the investigation is continuing, but there is no threat to the public,” Davis said.

Davis said two homes were searched by investigating officers.

“Our hearts go out to all the family members that have been impacted by this,”

Davis said.