GUILFORD, Conn. — A Guilford man is facing multiple charges after police connected him to two shootings in his hometown that took place within the last year. In both cases, police said each house was struck by gunfire, but nobody was hit or injured.
Guilford police said the first shooting occurred on Dec. 21, 2022, where a home on Fernwood Dr. was shot at a total of six times. Police reported a second shooting on Oct. 25, 2023, where a New England Road home was shot at a total of four times, with two bullets hitting the home.
Tuesday night, police arrested 39-year-old Gregory McHugh in connection to both shootings, charging him with reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal mischief in the first degree, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of a weapon on school grounds, and negligent storage of a firearm.
In terms of tracking down the suspect, police said they found several connections.
“An extensive review of cellular data revealed he was also at the scene of both crime scenes at the time these incidents took place,” said Chief Chris Massey with the Guilford Police Department.
When police got a search warrant, they found McHugh’s gun and ammunition, which matched the shell casings found at both crime scenes.
While in his home, police also found a list with about 100 names on it.
“That included the name of two of our victim’s daughters who graduated from Guilford High School with Mr. McHugh, along with numerous other names,” Chief Massey said. “At this time, the true motive behind these shootings is still in question. However, we have drawn a connection between the two residences targeted as being the former homes of Mr. McHugh’s classmates from Guilford High School class of 2003.”
Police also made a connection to criminal mischief complaints from 2017, where they said McHugh slashed the tires of the cars at Mcgrady’s home, and several others in the area.
“I can say that we have found some correlation between these recent incidents and also the incidents that occurred back in 2017,” Chief Massey said.
“This is a story you watch on the news. Never in a million years did I think this was going to be directed toward me, and my wife and the rest of my family,” said Ron Mcgrady, whose house was one of the homes hit by bullets.
One of the bullets came straight through Mcgrady’s living room, piercing through the back door. At first, Mcgrady thought it was a random incident.
“We had no inclination that it could be anything other than that and then, when the detectives interviewed us, we just mentioned names from the past and they just happened to click on this one guy, and they started pressing it,” Mcgrady said. “I can’t say enough good things about the Guilford police department and that detective bureau down there. They are amazing guys.”
Now that Mchugh is behind bars, Mcgrady said he feels like he can sleep a little better at night, though he may still have one eye open.
“Now we feel much safer, my wife can sleep. My wife has already contacted my girls. They’re relieved. Knowing this guy is not going to be sitting outside our house or, anyone else’s house. Who knows what this guy’s going to do, with his past,” Mcgrady said.
A judge set his bond at $500,000. If he does post bond, he will be on 24/7 lockdown at his home, with a GPS monitor.
The whole thing, chilling for the victims of the shootings.
“He’s escalated over the years,” Mcgrady said. “In 2017, he did the tire slashing, not only to our residence but other girls who went to high school with my daughter’s residence. Now, he’s upped his ante to shooting. What’s his next move?”
McHugh is expected to have another court date on Dec. 6.
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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