HARTFORD, Conn — The office of the Inspector General has released its preliminary report on the fatal shooting last week of a suspect by Colchester police.
According to the report, Colchester officers were called to a residence on Norwich Avenue (Route 616) around 6:15 p.m. on the report of a disturbance.
When officers arrived, they spoke to the second-floor tenant, who reported that their landlord, 33-year-old Jared Billard, had been "acting erratically" since earlier in the afternoon.
The report states that at one point, Billard lit a grill on the residence's common deck, leaving it unattended. Then, around 5:20 p.m., Billard again came out of his basement apartment, began grilling, and then became confrontational with the second-floor tenant. The report states that at one point, Billard reportedly pushed the tenant and displayed throwing knives.
When officers arrived at the scene, they were directed to Billard's basement apartment. They entered the basement and tried to speak with Billard, who was behind a closed door.
While officers were speaking, they heard him rack the slide of a pump action shotgun, according to the report. Billard was then heard saying, "Here we go; this is you – this ain't me," and emerged from the door pointing the shotgun at Officer Kiruless Wassef.
Wassef, according to the report, was standing near the bottom of the basement stairs. He fired one round, which struck Billard in the upper chest. He was given medical aid at the scene and rushed to Backus Hospital in Norwich, where he later died from his injuries.
According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the cause of Billard's death was due to a gunshot wound to the lung.
At this time, a toxicology report is not available.
The Inspector General's office also released two body camera videos, one from Wassef and another from another responding officer, John Zavalick.
The Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Connecticut State Police Eastern Major Crime Squad, and the New London Judicial District State's Attorney's Office are investigating the shooting.
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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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