Hartford Police and Inspector General Investigate Officer-Involved Shooting
An officer-involved shooting in Hartford on Sept. 29 left a 17-year-old injured and prompted a joint investigation by Connecticut’s Office of Inspector General and the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad, courant.com reported. The incident unfolded after West Hartford police pursued a vehicle driven by a homicide suspect, culminating in gunfire on Flatbush Avenue.
The sequence began at approximately 10:48 p.m. on Sept. 29 when the West Hartford Police Department received a Flock camera alert for a black Subaru Outback. Middletown police had previously issued a lookout for the vehicle, believing it was driven by Barrington Brown, a suspect in a homicide. West Hartford officers located the Subaru near New Park Avenue and Oakwood Avenue and initiated a pursuit. Investigators with the Office of Inspector General stated that officers successfully deployed stop sticks, deflating one or more of the vehicle’s tires as it crossed into Hartford heading east on Flatbush Avenue. Hartford police officers joined the pursuit once the vehicle crossed the city line.
Pursuit and Gunfire on Flatbush Avenue
West Hartford police Officer Christian Montesdeoca followed immediately behind the Subaru as it crossed the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Hillside Avenue. According to investigators, Brown twice opened the driver’s side door and fired a total of three shots at Montesdeoca’s cruiser. Montesdeoca returned fire through his front windshield after the third shot. Brown then stopped the vehicle, exited, and ran between two residences at 56-58 Flatbush Ave. and 50-52 Flatbush Ave., pursued on foot by Montesdeoca, two other West Hartford officers, and several Hartford officers.
Brown jumped a fence into the backyard of 50-52 Flatbush Ave. and approached a running, parked black Acura occupied by a 17-year-old driver and a 19-year-old front passenger listening to music. Investigators stated Brown held up a firearm and ordered the occupants out. As the two occupants attempted to exit through the front passenger door, the 17-year-old sustained a superficial gunshot wound to his buttock.
Surrender and Ongoing Investigation
Brown entered the Acura and attempted to drive away from the parking area. Three West Hartford officers—Montesdeoca, Sgt. Raymond Narciso, and Officer Amber Prose—discharged their firearms at Brown from behind a chain-link fence. Brown then exited the vehicle, raised his arms, and surrendered. Investigators recovered a black handgun next to the vehicle.
Brown sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder during the incident. Officers provided immediate medical care at the scene, and an ambulance transported him to Hartford Hospital. Following treatment and discharge, the Middletown Police Department arrested Brown, and he was arraigned in Superior Court in Middletown on charges related to the Middletown homicide. None of the police officers sustained physical injuries. The 17-year-old received treatment at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and was discharged on Sept. 30. The Office of the Inspector General noted that investigators have not yet determined whether the 17-year-old was struck by a bullet fired by Brown or by the officers.
West Hartford Police Chief Vernon Riddick Jr. stated that his department is fully cooperating with the independent investigation. As depicted in the accompanying videos included in the Office of Inspector General’s press release, West Hartford Police Officers, confronted with an immediate and dangerous threat, put their lives at risk while taking action to effect the arrest of a suspect wanted in connection with a domestic violence homicide,
Riddick said. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured during the arrest. The West Hartford Police Department will fully cooperate with the office of Inspector General‘s investigation into this use of force incident, in an effort to ensure that the investigation can proceed as expeditiously as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hartford Shooting
Who is facing criminal charges in connection with the incident?
Barrington Brown was arrested by the Middletown Police Department and arraigned in Superior Court in Middletown on charges relating to a Middletown homicide following his hospital discharge.
Which agencies are conducting the use-of-force investigation?
Connecticut’s Office of Inspector General and the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad are leading the investigation into the police gunfire.
How many officers discharged their weapons during the encounter?
Three West Hartford police officers—Officer Christian Montesdeoca, Sgt. Raymond Narciso, and Officer Amber Prose—fired their weapons at the suspect near the parked Acura.
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