NEW HAVEN, Conn — A report from the Office of the Inspector General has concluded that a New Haven police officer was justified in firing at a suspect, who, after he emerged from a crashed car, shot and wounded the officer.
On Oct. 7, 2022, at approximately 1:30 a.m., near the intersection of Chapel Street and Blatchley Avenue, New Haven Police Officer Chad Curry was investigating a car that had hit a pole and a tree. The car turned out to be stolen.
A woman was walking away from the car, Curry spoke to her and told her to stay on the scene. Officials believe she was in the car when it crashed. He then drove down the street following Jose Claudio who was wearing an orange sweatshirt. Claudio reversed direction and ran and Curry followed him in his cruiser. As Claudio approached an intersection, he fired multiple shots at Curry, who returned fire from his department-issued handgun in the direction of Claudio.
The dashcam video that was released shows the suspect open fire on Curry unprovoked with the officer still in the cruiser. Curry was wounded his his shoulder. Curry returned fire, shooting 16 times.
When he realized that he had been struck, he returned and took cover behind his patrol vehicle. Claudio ran north on Blatchley Avenue firing additional shots toward Officer Curry. Officials said Claudio fired ten rounds. Curry suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries according to the report.
Watch video from Officer Curry's cruiser camera. Warning, the video contains offensive language and gunfire.
Watch video from Officer Curry's body camera, Warning, the video contains offensive language and gunfire.
The report concludes, "Based on the facts developed during the investigation, I have determined that Officer Curry’s use of deadly force was justified in defending himself from the gunfire directed at him by Jose Claudio."
Doug Stewart is a Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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