One Dead After Officer-Involved Shooting in Hartford

A family member said this started with a fight over dominoes.

One person is dead after a police-involved shooting at 24 Heath Street in Hartford around 10 p.m. on Wednesday.  and family members said it started as a fight over a dominoes game.

Officers Richard Cotto and Johnny Muniz responded to the multi-family residence because of the report of a disturbance.

When officers arrived, they found a stabbing victim and a bloody scene. They confronted a man with a knife and he lunged at police. One of the officers opened fire and shot the suspect, according to state police.

“That individual was armed with a box-cutter knife. The officer told him several times to disarm. ... He advanced and lunged toward the officer, which caused one of the officers to draw the service weapon,” said Lt. Paul Vance, of Connecticut State Police.

The man was rushed to St. Francis Hospital and pronounced dead, officials said.

His name has not been released. He was 52 years old police referred to him as a "suspect."

Police said they have a tentative identification and are notifying family.

The nephew of a man who was stabbed said the fight started over a game of dominoes and the situation got out of control.

The stabbing victim and two officers were also taken to a local hospital. 

State police have taken over the investigation. Officers Cotto and Muniz are on administrative duty, which is protocol.

An autopsy will be conducted.

Maria Nascimento, who has run her business out of the neighborhood for years, said the incident could’ve been avoided.

“Things get carried away. They were peacefully playing dominos. ... One has one too many and things happen,” she said.

Contact Us