Several gunshots were fired into a car outside the courthouse on Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport on Monday afternoon and four men have been taken to the hospital after what authorities believe was a targeted shooting.
Officials said three people identified as persons of interest in the shooting are in custody on unrelated charges, but they have not been charged in the shooting.
Police are looking into whether this shooting was connected to the homicide of an 18-year-old on Sunday.
"This was not a random act of violence. It seems like it was targeted. We had a homicide over the weekend with an 18-year-old," Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim said during a news conference Monday afternoon.
Police said they are looking into whether someone had a court date today.
Dispatchers received reports at 12:15 p.m. of gunshots and shot spotter detected 20 rounds, police said. The courthouse was locked down and has closed for the day, according to officials.
Video from the scene shows a sedan riddled with bullet holes.
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Four men who appear to be in their early 20s were in a car outside the courthouse when someone started firing from another vehicle and three people ran into the courthouse to safety, according to the mayor's office. The driver of the car was also shot.
The injured people were taken to St. Vincent's and Bridgeport Hospital. The injuries are not life-threatening, according to the mayor's office. Two sustained serious injuries and the other two have minor injuries, police said. All are expected to survive.
Trumbull police are assisting at the hospitals.
State troopers were also called in to assist Bridgeport police. Connecticut State Police said they will remain present to help Bridgeport police manage the recent violence in their city.
“Based on what’s happened we decided to work together and send some troopers down there effective immediately. This is not an effort to increase arrests or show of force. It’s merely to promote de-escalation and prevent what’s key here further retaliation which it looks like there is some retaliation back and forth going on based on previous violence," said Brian Foley, assistant to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection commissioner.
Bridgeport police said there is no immediate threat.
Officials said three people are in custody and police are looking into whether they are connected. It's not clear how many others might have been involved.