The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Search continues for man who shot cop
NEW HAVEN — A police captain was recovering from gunshot wounds as a massive cadre of officers and detectives searched a city neighborhood city for a killer Tuesday and as an yet unidentified young man was mourned.
Chief Otoniel Reyes vowed the shooter would be brought to justice, speaking Tuesday evening as New Haven police officers stood shouldertoshoulder at his back near the Dixwell site where one of their own, veteran officer Capt. Anthony Duff, was shot.
“We’re standing here with this community, as one, to say that we will not tolerate gun violence. And I stand here with the men and women of this department to say to the individual who shot and murdered a community member on the street ... and almost murdered a police officer, that we are going to expend every resource to bring you to justice,” said Reyes.
“Every single chief, every single commander, every single member of this department, will be working this investigation,” he said.
“We will find you and we will bring you to justice,” Reyes said. You will not turn your gun against a police officer who is just trying to make sure that he affirms the oath that he makes to this community.”
The shooting occurred at about 9:30 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Dixwell Avenue and Henry Street.
Duff, the department’s public information officer, was in the area while off duty and, seeing the shooting take place before him, attempted to intervene, Reyes said.
Reyes said Duff began to chase the suspect, who “turned around and shot him several times,” wounding him critically.
A young man was shot and killed, Reyes said. He had not been named by late Tuesday, as police were unable to definitively determine who he was or notify his next of kin.
Mayor Toni Harp said the city wished the young man had been identified, so that sincere condolences of the city could be offered to his family.
Reyes, along with Harp, the Rev. Boise Kimber and Board of Police Commissioners Chairman Anthony Dawson, spoke during a news conference Tuesday to the virtue of Duff, the tragedy of the young man’s death, the work of the department — including the officers who put a tourniquet on Duff, potentially saving his life, of other law enforcement partners, and the need to apprehend the individual that committed these acts of violence.
“We cannot live in fear in this community. Right now, we are living in, somewhat, of fear, because we do not know the individual who has caused this incident,” said Kimber. “I’m asking that this community, who may know, who may have seen, who may have heard something, to certainly give us this information.”
“Our hearts are hurting — and so I’m saying, all handson deck in this community. And that does not mean just police officers; that means this entire community — all hands on deck,” Kimber said.
Dawson said, “Capt. Duff is a 24yearveteran of this department — and, particularly, this neighborhood, he loved you. He put his life on the line.
“He could very well have turned his head last night. But he got out of his vehicle, without his vest on, not knowing if he was going to meet with his family ... at the dinner table last night,” said Dawson. “We’re going to have a speedy recovery with him, but I’m saying this as a native New Havener ... we will leave no stone unturned until we find the individual that’s responsible for this. This is not how New Haven is supposed to be.”
Duff is expected to make a full recovery, Reyes said.
Duff was taken into surgery late Monday , then to the recovery room at approximately 1 a.m. Tuesday, according to city spokesman Laurence Grotheer. Mayor Toni Harp stayed with Duff ’s wife during the procedure, Grotheer said
A massive manhunt unfolded late Monday and remained underway all day Tuesday over several city blocks as officers tried to locate the gunman.
“We have every available cop in the city on this,” Sgt. David Guliuzza said early Tuesday. “There are a slew of armed individuals both plain clothes and in uniform knocking on doors and canvassing the area.”
“He is doing well, he’s expected to make a full recovery,” Guliuzza said. “He’s a very wellliked individual, not only in the Police Department, but in the community. We’re hoping that will lead to the community providing tips and hot leads.”
Guliuzza said it is believed that Duff fired his weapon during the incident.
A “person of interest” in the investigation was located in West Haven Tuesday, according to West Haven police Sgt. Patrick Buturla. Reyes said there was nothing he could say about that part of the investigation.
Reyes said the individual suspected of the shooting is believed to be a black male, potentially with braided hair, standing between 5 feet, 8 inches and 6 feet tall. He was last seen running toward Townsend Street, wearing a black Tshirt and black pants.
There is no indication that there is a continuing threat to the public, Reyes said.
He thanked neighborhood residents for their “patience and their support throughout this process,” noting that it had been difficult, and said the department would continue to be out in force, speaking with and bonding with residents it “turns every investigative stone” possible to identify the shooter.
Connecticut State Police early Tuesday issued a statement on its role in the response to the shooting:
“Following the shooting in New Haven on Monday night, the New Haven Police Department and the New Haven State’s Attorney called on Connecticut State Police to assist in the investigation,” the statement said. “State Police is currently assisting on several levels as we work to determine what transpired during the late night incident.”
Nina Silva, chair of the Dixwell Neighborhood Management team, said the group was thinking of Duff Tuesday morning.
“We’re keeping him in our prayers for a speedy recovery,” said Silva.
Silva said a SWAT team had entered an abandoned building on Henry Street late Monday .
By Tuesday morning, she said, SWAT officers had been knocking on doors in the neighborhood, hoping to speak with residents and search their homes.
The visits by SWAT officers were alarming — “very scary for our residents” — and had prompted residents to call her, she said. But the neighborhood is aware of the need for the process, she said.
Alder Steve Winter, D21, whose ward borders the location of Monday’s shooting, said he had a conversation recently with a constituent in a convenience store on the same corner as Monday’s shooting, and the man said the uptick of gun violence was a big concern.
“I think we have seen an increased police presence since the 8yearold was shot on Thompson Street in Newhallville, but we’re going to need a continued increase in presence of officers in their cars, on walking beats, and I think we all need to look at whether there are other ways we can utilize technology to make sure crimes like this get solved,” he said.
“There are folks who feel terrorized by this uptick in gun violence for sure,” he said.