CT man expected to be charged after one person shot in arm, another in the face with pellet gun

A man was taken to an area hospital Wednesday and is expected to be charged after firing a pellet gun at police officers in Hamden following two reports of others being shot earlier in the evening.

The initial report was received just before 5 p.m. by someone who was fishing in the area of Spruce Bank Road when they were shot in the arm by what they believed was a BB gun, according to the Hamden Police Department.

The victim said the shooter appeared to have left in the vehicle, police said. Officers were unable to locate a suspect.

Then just before 6:50 p.m., police responded to the area of Ives Street and Spruce Bank Road after receiving a 911 call reporting that a person had been shot. When officers arrived they found a victim suffering injuries to their face that were consistent with being shot multiple times, though police said they were not immediately sure what type of weapon was used.

The victim suffered serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening and was taken to an area hospital.

Shortly thereafter, officers located a suspect at the scene who was holding a rifle to his head and threatening self-harm, according to police.

Police took cover and engaged the suspect in a dialogue, at which the man pointed the rifle at officers and fired numerous times, police said. Police at that point realized the rifle was a pellet gun that the man used to shoot and damage multiple police vehicles, according to police.

Officers were able to take him into custody after using “less lethal bean bag projectiles,” police said.

The 47-year-old man was taken to an area hospital for an evaluation and is being kept “under guard,” police said. He is expected to be charged at a later date, according to police.

Police said there is no danger to the public and that more information will be released at a later time.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact Det. Cushman at 203-230-4000.