CT police chief: No video of officer shooting person who fired at car
ANSONIA — Few details were released Monday after officials say a Derby police officer wounded a person who opened fire on a passing vehicle after flagging down the cop for help.
The incident, which occurred in Ansonia on the town line with Derby, was also not captured on video since Derby police officers and their cruisers are not equipped with cameras, Derby Police Chief Jerry Narowski said.
The situation unfolded around 7 a.m. Monday when a Derby police officer, who was not immediately identified, was stopped at a red light at Division Street and Atwater Avenue, Narowski said. Two people then ran up and “pounded” on the officer’s window in distress, Narowski said.
As the officer pulled to the curb to help them, one of the individuals opened fire on a passing vehicle, Narowski said.
“Our officer then engaged that suspect that had a weapon and fired at him, striking the suspect. Shortly after that, those two individuals were taken into custody,” Narowski said.
The person shot by the officer was taken to Bridgeport Hospital for treatment. State police identified the individual as Cornelius Mccullough, 29, of Atwater Avenue.
After his release from the hospital, Mccullough was charged by state police with carrying a pistol without a permit and criminal possession of a firearm, state police said. He was held on $300,000 bond and scheduled to appear in court Tuesday in Milford.
Narowski said a firearm was recovered after the shooting.
Police said the occupants of the car that was fired on remained at the scene and are cooperating with the investigation.
At least one of the two people taken into custody was a juvenile, but was not the one who fired the gun, Narowski said. Narowski believes the two juveniles were Black and said the officer was white.
“That has no bearing on the matter,” Narowski said.
The incident took place on the town line dividing Derby and Ansonia, officials said. “It is a Derby officer in Ansonia, right on the town line, [and it’s] being investigated by the Connecticut state police major crimes,” Narowski said.
Police have not said why the individuals had “pounded” on the officer’s window for help.
State police are working with state’s attorneys in Milford and Danbury on the investigation.
The Division of Criminal Justice said Monday afternoon that Danbury State’s Attorney Stephen J. Sedensky III has been assigned to review whether the officer was justified in the use of force.
Eric Barone, who lives near where the shooting occurred, said he saw two people on the ground and a single officer in the street after he heard a series of gunshots.
“I heard two small-caliber shots go off, early this morning about 7 a.m.,” Barone said. “I went running to the window, as I was doing that, five more shots rang out — higher caliber.”
Barone said he saw a gun on the street and by 9:30 a.m., the gun was still there.
One of his windows is broken in his home and Barone believes it was damaged by a bullet.