HARTFORD – Shots were fired at Hartford police detectives Thursday afternoon that led to a police chase in the Capital City.
The incident took place by Hillside Avenue in broad daylight when children were outside.
“Thankfully nobody was hurt. Nobody was struck by gunfire whether it was a police officer or otherwise so we’re thankful for that,” said Lt. Paul Cicero of the Hartford Police Department.
Police held a late news conference and said they are grateful none of their detectives were hurt given it was a close call.
Police said detectives in plainclothes just so happened to be in the Hillside Avenue area for a separate case when suddenly, a black Honda Accord pulled up to the detective side by side and shot twice through the sunroof. One of those bullets hit the passenger side of the detective’s car.
That is when a police chase started going onto 84-Westbound and police said the shooter threw his gun into the woods.
“Thanks to an abundance of traffic on the highway, the vehicle came to a slow stop. Patrol officers as well as anyone on scene conducted a felony stop. The two parties in the vehicle were taken into custody,” added Lt. Cicero.
Police identified the suspects as Anthony Torres and the shooter as Jose Ramos. Both are Hartford residents with a slew of criminal history.
Narcotics and guns were found in the Honda Accord and police said those guns were stolen from a residential burglary in New York, a case dating back to October 2015.
Peg Garrison works in one of the businesses on Hillside Avenue and said she looked out the window and saw the commotion.
“I thought ‘what’s this?!’ someone said, ‘well, there’s a drive-by shooting’ and I went ‘oh that’s great!’” said Garrison of Hartford.
Both suspects are expected to be arraigned at 10 a.m. at Hartford Superior Court.
Torres is being held on a $350,000 dollar bond and Ramos is held on a $500,000 dollar bond.
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We'll have more details as they become available.