Man fires weapon, shot by Derby cop
Pedestrian struck in leg after officers say he fired into passing car
ADerby police officer shot a pedestrian in the leg Monday after the man pulled out a gun and fired into a passing car as the officer watched, police said.
The shooting happened about 7 a.m. on the Ansonia-Derby line. The patrol officer was stopped at a red light on Division Street at Atwater Avenue when two pedestrians who appeared distressed pounded on his windows asking for help, Derby police Chief Gerald Narowski said.
The officer pulled over to the curb and tried to determine what kind of help the two needed, Narowski said. As he did so, a car began driving down the street and one of the distressed people pulled out a gun and fired into the vehicle, he said.
The officer responded by firing his service weapon at the person with the gun, striking the man in the leg, the chief
said. He said he doesn’t believe anyone in the car was injured.
The wounded man was taken to taken to Bridgeport Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.
Everyone involved — with the exception of the patient — and the car that was fired on, remained at the scene, Narwoski said.
“All people and evidence are accounted for at the scene,” hesaid. “There is no threat to the community, there never was.”
Western District Major Crime detectives from the state police are investigating the shooting.
Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti said the shooting apparently happened on the Ansonia side of the city line, which is Division Street. Division intersects with Atwater Avenue, which becomes Clifton Avenue on the An son ia side.
Narowski said police “have to travel on each other’s roads to get from Point Ato Point B.”
The shooting happened down the street from Griffin Hospital in Derby.