Thomas Breen photo
Chief Jacobson (right), with Acting CAO Justin McCarthy and Mayor Elicker at Wednesday press conference.
(Updated) A 35-year-old man died and two West Haven police officers were injured following a shoot-out Wednesday morning in a Grand Avenue apartment complex.
The shooting took place inside the housing authority-owned Mill River Crossing complex, starting at around 5:34 a.m.
That’s when officers in a regional Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) task force showed up at the apartment door to serve a drug-related search warrant, city Police Chief Karl Jacobson said at a Wednesday afternoon press conference.
“Officers encountered shots being fired at them. They returned fire,” he said. The suspect, a 35-year-old man, “was eventually struck and succumbed to their injuries.”
It’s unclear at this time who fired the shot that killed him.
Jacobson said that the two officers who were injured during this shootout both work for the West Haven Police Department. Both were shot in the leg; both were treated at Yale New Haven Hospital. As of the 1 p.m. press conference, one officer had been released from the hospital, and the other was expected to be released soon.
Jacobson declined to go into too many details about the shooting, as he said it’s now under the purview of the state Office of the Inspector General. He said that, per state law, that office now has five days to release body camera footage from the incident and to release other identifying details about the suspect who was killed, including his name.
Jacobson did not say how many officers fired their weapons at Wednesday’s shoot-out; a preliminary investigation, he said, shows that the two New Haven police officers present appear not to have fired their weapons. Also present as part of this task force were officers from Waterbury and the state police.
Jacobson did say that the Mill River Crossing apartment is rented by a 32-year-old woman. He said that she was present at the time of the shoot-out, as was an 8‑year-old girl and a 52-year-old grandfather. None of those three were injured. He said that the 35-year-old who died appeared to be in a relationship with the 32-year-old woman who rented the apartment.
“This was a long scene,” Jacobson said. “It was shots fired, officers struck, then time in between. He was barricaded in a room … Then there was more shots fired. It was clear that this suspect was not gonna retreat peacefully.” He said police attempted to speak with him over the course of the shoot-out.
Jacobson said that the regional task force involved in Wednesday’s shoot-out was different than the regional task-force involved in a different fatal shoot-out, just over the West Haven town line on Sept. 19, that left 36-year-old New Havener Jebrell Conley dead.
The New Haven Police Department (NHPD) initially posted about the shooting Wednesday morning on X, formerly Twitter, at 8:11 a.m.
The social media post stated that, during a search warrant execution by the West Haven Police Department on Grand Avenue in New Haven, two officers were shot. “Their injuries are not considered life-threatening.” The NHPD’s X post also said that the “suspect” in this case was struck, but did not say how serious his injuries we.
A separate police post identifies the area of the shooting as around Grand Avenue and Hamilton Street.
The state Office of Inspector General will lead the investigation of this shooting, according to the post.
(Update, 4:07 p.m.) Housing Authority/Elm City Communities President Shenae Draughn wrote in a statement on Wednesday afternoon, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred at Mill River today. Our hearts go out to the eight-year-old that was present and her family, as well as the residents of the development, who are undoubtedly facing significant emotional distress in the aftermath of this event. We recognize the trauma that such experiences can cause, particularly for young children, and we are committed to ensuring that support services are made available to them.”
Draughn wrote that Elm City Communities will provide mental health counseling and resources for those affected and that the agency will meet with residents to “develop a restorative plan that ensures their voices are heard and that our team will follow through on actionable items.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured officers, their families, our residents, and all those impacted by this event,” she added.
Laura Glesby contributed to this report.
Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, with city Asst. Chiefs Zannelli and Ettienne.