NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Four teens were taken into custody Tuesday after shots were fired at buildings, cars and an undercover police vehicle.
Police said at 9:29 p.m. there were multiple ShotSpotter activations and 911 calls reporting gunfire in the area of Hamilton Street and Grand Avenue. Also, 911 callers gave a description of the two vehicles believed to be responsible for the gunfire.
Members of the Criminal Intelligence Unit and the Shooting Task Force were working crime suppression in the area of the reported gunfire. Plain clothes investigators were on duty in an unmarked police vehicle when they saw a vehicle taking off from the area of reported gunfire, driving at a high rate of speed from Hamilton Street. Plain clothes investigators in an unmarked police vehicle began to follow the suspect vehicle. An occupant in that vehicle fired a gun at the unmarked car.
Police chased the vehicle through Fair Haven, the East Shore district, onto the I-95 South connector and then onto I- 91 north. The suspect vehicle was stopped in the area of exit 9 on I-9I south. Three of the four teens in the car tried to run but were apprehended. North Haven Police Department and State Police assisted in the apprehension of the four occupants. Three firearms were recovered in this incident.
One crime scene was secured on Hamilton Street, and a second one was secured at East Grand Avenue and Lexington Street, where several vehicles and structures were struck by the gunfire.
No one was injured during this incident. Investigators have not identified that alleged second vehicle involved with the reported 911 gunfire.
Amongst the four arrestees were two juveniles. The adult arrestees were Tony Gibbs, 18, of New Haven, and Elija Black, 19, of East Haven were charged with conspiracy to commit assault in the 1st degree, carrying a weapon in a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit, carrying a high-capacity magazine, larceny of a motor vehicle, and interfering with an officer. Black was also charged with unlawful discharge, and multiple warrants out of East Haven. Gibbs and Black are being held on a $1 million bond.
Chief Jacobson of the New Haven Police Department said “I commend the quick and brave action of the officers and detectives involved. They were under fire and continued to pursue the suspects and safely apprehend the suspect(s) who discharged a firearm from a moving vehicle towards the officers. The teamwork of our New Haven officers, North Haven officers and our State Police partners is commendable and honorable. This is an example of great work done by the police daily.”
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information valuable to investigators at 203-946-6304 or through the department’s anonymous tip-line at 866-888-TIPS (8477).
Doug Stewart is a Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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