State police major crimes detectives are investigating whether the use of force was justified in a police-involved shooting in New Haven on Tuesday.
Marcus Rivera, 22, of New Haven, was shot in the pelvis area while running from police in the Hill South neighborhood around 5:45 p.m., according to authorities.
He was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he went through surgery and has been upgraded from critical, but stable, condition to good condition.
New Haven Police Chief Anthony Campbell said he wishes the incident never occurred but the outcome was as favorable as possible.
He identified the officer who exchanged gunfire as detective Francisco Sanchez, a seven-year veteran of the department assigned to the criminal intelligence unit.
Campbell said there was an active warrant for Rivera and Sanchez was working on an investigation with a group of undercover officers from the intel unit and shooting task force when they encountered him in the Lamberton Street area.
Authorities apprehended Rivera, but he managed to get free and there was an exchange of gunfire as Rivera continued to run, according to police.
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No officers were hurt, but Rivera was shot.
“Amidst this chaos, officers had the wherewithal to provide first aid to an individual who moments before had tried to take their lives, that is a testimony to the morality and humanity which all officers have an abundance,” Campbell said.
Rivera has been charged with carrying a pistol without a permit.
State police are continuing to investigate the case.
Detective Sanchez and the other undercover officers have been assigned to administrative duty, which is department protocol, according to police.
Campbell did not name the other law enforcement officers involved.
Internal affairs for the New Haven Police Department will conduct its parallel investigation into the police shooting.
