Police officers in Connecticut have killed 21 people in the last five years, largely by gunfire, according to a Courant review of use of force investigations.
The death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis has spurred protests across the country against police use of force, particularly against people of color.
Of the 21 use of force deaths in Connecticut over the past five years, 16 of the cases have been resolved by sometimes yearslong investigations by state’s attorneys, and five remain open. No officers have been charged with any crimes in connection with the deaths.
Communities have held rallies, pressed for answers and pushed for police departments to fire officers, but many officers involved have returned to duty, often facing little consequence for using deadly force.
The victims have left behind families, some of whom continue to press on in calling for justice when more people are killed by police in Connecticut.
Here’s a look at those deadly encounters:
Jose Soto, fatally shot April 2, 2020, by officers from the Capital Region Emergency Services Team in Manchester
Jose Soto, 27, was fatally shot outside his mother’s Manchester home after a regional SWAT team was called to assist staff from the Department of Correction attempting to serve a violation of parole warrant. No weapon was found on or near Soto after he was killed, sources have said. His death remains under investigation by Tolland State’s Attorney Matthew Gedansky and the four officers that opened fire were placed on administrative leave. Soto’s family said he suffered from PTSD, and his mother told officers when urging they use restraint in arresting her son.
Edward Gendron, fatally shot Jan. 20, 2020, by a Waterbury police officer
Edward Gendron, 57, was shot after a Waterbury police officer, Richard Tompkins III, responded to a welfare check and was confronted by Gendron, who reportedly had a gun. Police said an altercation of some sort took place before Gendron was shot. New Britain State’s Attorney Brian Preleski is investigating the shooting and has not issued a ruling.
Mubarak Soulemane, fatally shot Jan. 15, 2020, by a state trooper in West Haven
Mubarak Soulemane was shot as many as seven times by state police Trooper Brian North in West Haven after state police chased a stolen vehicle up I-95 from Norwalk. Police there said the suspected thief was also involved a disturbance at a local AT&T store. Body camera footage showed North firing at Soulemane through a closed driver’s side window. His car was blocked in by state police vehicles and another trooper had previously attempted to stun Soulemane with a Taser.
Soulemane’s case drew significant attention, including a visit from civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton. Soulemane, a 19-year-old from New Haven, suffered from mental illness, his family has said. The case remains under investigation by Middlesex State’s Attorney Michael Gailor. Gailor is being assisted by inspectors from the Division of Criminal Justice after officials removed state police detectives from the investigation.
Michael Gregory, fatally shot Jan. 2, 2020, by Ansonia police
Michael Gregory, 30, was shot after police reported that he attempted to lunge at officers with a knife when they responded to a report by his girlfriend that he was in her home in violation of a no-contact protective order issued after he was arrested for domestic violence. Officials said the Ansonia officers tried to stun Gregory with a Taser, but it did not work. Body camera footage shows Gregory with a knife before the shooting, but he had previously locked himself in a room before the door was kicked open by an officer. Danbury State’s Attorney Stephen J. Sedensky was assigned to review the shooting, but has not yet issued a report.
John J. Carras, fatally shot Sept. 5, 2019, by East Hartford police
John J. Carras, 43, was killed after police responded to a domestic dispute inside a home at Lark and Skyline drives in East Hartford. Police said officers struggled with Carras before they opened fire. It was not clear how many times Carras was shot by police. Neighbors said there was a violent dispute between Carras and his wife before the shooting that left her seriously injured. Windham State’s Attorney Anne F. Mahoney is still reviewing the shooting.
Alphonso Zaporta, fatally shot on July 26, 2019, by a Hartford police officer
Alphonso Zaporta, 41, was fatally shot by Hartford police Det. Zack Sherry after a traffic chase was cut short by roadwork on the on-ramp to I-84 off Broad Street. Body camera footage showed Zaporta struggling with officers during the stop. In body camera footage, officers can be heard yelling that Zaporta had gotten an officer’s gun. After Zaporta was dragged from the car, Sherry fired three times, killing Zaporta. During investigation, authorities were told by a passenger in the car that Zaporta was “ready to die” ahead the shooting, according to a report. Gedansky ruled that Sherry acted lawfully when he killed Zaporta.
Anthony Vega Cruz, fatally shot on April 20, 2019, by a Wethersfield police officer
Anthony Vega Cruz, 19, often called “Chulo” by friends and family, was fatally shot by Wethersfield police Officer Layau Eulizier after evading a traffic stop. Officers had followed Cruz’s car down the Silas Deane Highway before ramming it. After it was stopped in the entry to a parking lot on the Silas Deane Highway, officers, including Eulizier got out of their police vehicles. Eulizier was near the front of the vehicle when it started to drive off. Euilizer fired two shots, killing Vega Cruz. Hartford State’s Attorney Gail P. Hardy ruled that Eulizier was justified in opening fire. Euilizer resigned from his post in April of this year.
Vega Cruz’s death drew significant attention, with repeated rallies outside Wethersfield Police Department in which protesters demanded the chief fire Eulizier. Hardy’s report, released in March, was met with criticism from community leaders, friends and family, who believed Eulizier should have been charged in the killing.
Kyron Sands, fatally shot Feb. 20, 2019, by state troopers and Willimantic police
Kyron Sands, 39, was shot after a lengthy car chase from Norwich through eastern Connecticut into Windham turned into a foot chase. Willimantic police officers and state troopers told investigators they believed Sands had a gun. Norwich officers, attempting to apprehend Sands in their city for a reported break-in, had fired on Sands earlier before he stole multiple cars and was eventually stopped in Windham. It is unclear from the evidence whose shots struck Sands, but at least five officers and troopers fired on Sands in Windham. Gailor ruled each officer was justified in using deadly force.
Paul Arbitelle, fatally shot Dec. 29, 2018, by a Danbury police officer
Paul Arbitelle, 45, was fatally shot by Danbury police Officer Alex Relyea outside his mother’s home in the Glen Apartments, officials said. A report of the incident says that officers went there to try to take him into custody. Arbitelle met the officers at the door with a knife, and when he came out, he lunged at Relyea. Another officer fired a Taser, but it did not appear to be effective. Relyea then shot Arbitelle, killing him and injuring his mother. Then-Stamford/Norwalk State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo said Relyea acted lawfully when he shot Arbitelle. Relyea had returned to duty before Colangelo’s report was issued and was involved in a subsequent police shooting in July 2019.
Juan McCray, fatally shot Feb. 4, 2018, by East Hartford police officers
Juan McCray, 31, was fatally shot by multiple East Hartford police officers as he attempted to drive away after a lengthy chase into Glastonbury. The officers were looking for McCray after a reported break-in at an apartment and stopped him in a vehicle on Burnside Avenue. After a struggle, McCray drove off. Officials said he sped through town roads and hit many things before coming to a stop in Glastonbury. An officer fired on his front tire in an attempt to immobilize the car. The car backed up and officers opened fire, killing McCray. Preleski cleared the officers of any wrongdoing.
Zoe Dowdell, fatally shot on Dec. 14, 2017 by New Britain police officers
Zoe Dowdell, 20, was shot and killed after five New Britain police officers fired on a car he was driving. Officials said the car had attempted to elude authorities before getting wedged between an unmarked police car and an embankment. After the car was hit by another police vehicle, it gained traction and drove forward down the street, toward officers, officials said. As many as 28 rounds were fired after the car began to drive from the embankment. Then-Fairfield State’s Attorney John Smirga cleared the officers of any wrongdoing after a lengthy investigation.
Dowdell’s killing drew substantial protest from the community. Family of Dowdell and others in the car that was fired on have called the incident racially motivated.
Kostatinos (Gus) Sfaelos, fatally shot Aug. 28, 2017, by a New Milford police officer
Kostatinos Sfaelos, 62, was fatally shot by New Milford police Officer Christopher Hayes near his home on Outlook Road. Officials said Sfaelos had a shotgun that he repeatedly refused to drop, despite commands from officers. Sfaelos was also seen walking toward the officers with the shotgun and raising it at one point. Sedensky cleared Hayes of wrongdoing in the death.
Jayson Negron, fatally shot May 9, 2017, by a Bridgeport police officer
Jayson Negron, 15, was fatally shot by Bridgeport police Officer James Boulay after, officials said, he tried to flee officers attempting to stop a stolen car that was driving the wrong way on a one-way street. Boulay fired one round at the rear tire in an attempt to stop the vehicle before opening the door and taking Jayson into custody. In an encounter that lasts just a few seconds, the car moves backward, Boulay is hit by the open door and Boulay fires four rounds, killing Jayson and injuring a passenger. Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen Platt cleared Boulay of any wrongdoing.
Community members, activists and Jayson’s family protested the shooting for months, pushing Platt to charge the officer. Family and activists continue to question the findings of Platt’s official report.
Thomas N. Gezotis Jr., fatally shot April 13, 2017, by Suffield police officers
Thomas N. Gezotis Jr., 57, was fatally shot by Suffield police Officer Richard Devin. Devin attempted to take Gezotis into custody after police tracked a stolen vehicle to a bar in town. While there, they spotted a cab that had just picked up Gezotis. Devin ordered Gezotis out of the car. While outside, Gezotis reportedly took out a gun and pointed it at Devin. The officer opened fire after thinking that Gezotis was firing the weapon. Then-Middlesex State’s Attorney Peter McShane found Devin to be justified in the shooting.
Val Thomas, fatally shot Jan. 29, 2017, by Montville police officers
Val Thomas, 53, was fatally shot by Montville police Officer Robin Salvatore after a violent struggle outside a local motel in which Thomas reportedly stole an officer’s Taser, attempted to shoot an officer with it and then assaulted Salvatore while hitting her repeatedly in the head. Salvatore shot Thomas once in the stomach. He died later at the hospital. Mahoney cleared Salvatore of any wrongdoing.
Daniel Reyes, fatally shot June 26, 2016, by a Thomaston police
Daniel Reyes, 27, was killed when he was shot once by Thomaston police Officer Richard Galpin. Reyes repeatedly refused to drop a small knife he was wielding, officials said. Galpin fired on Reyes after Reyes pointed the knife at him and moved quickly forward. Reyes had chronic mental health issues and reportedly told Galpin to shoot him. Preleski cleared Galpin of wrongdoing, but said in his report that the Division of Criminal Justice should consider partnering with law enforcement to review training related to dealing with individuals with mental health issues.
Dylan Pape, fatally shot March 21, 2016, by Stamford police officers
Dylan Pape, 27, was fatally shot by members of the Stamford police SWAT team after they responded to a call of a man with a gun outside a home. The call was later determined to have come from Pape. Officers attempted to speak to Pape for an hour before they unleashed a police dog on him. When the dog reached Pape, he raised up a black gun, and the officers opened fire. Investigators later discovered the weapon was a BB gun. Sedensky ruled the officers were justified in killing Pape.
Christopher Andrews, fatally shot on Feb. 16, 2016 by Fairfield police officers
Christopher Andrews, 52, was fatally shot by Fairfield police Officer Sean Fenton outside his home on Mountain Laurel Lane. Police responded to the home after a report of a violent domestic dispute and confronted Andrews. Officers said they commanded Andrews to drop a knife he was holding, but he refused, and when he lunged at Fenton, the officer opened fire. Colangelo cleared Fenton in the shooting.
Richard Love, fatally shot Oc.t 10, 2015, by state troopers in Old Saybrook
Richard Love, 31, was fatally shot by two members of a state police SWAT team after he barricaded himself in an Old Saybrook motel room and brandished a gun. After attempting to get him to surrender, the SWAT team members went into the room and found Love inside the bathroom. Love pointed a gun at the troopers, who fired on him, according to officials. Love was wanted in four bank robberies when police tracked him to the motel. Gedansky concluded that the troopers were justified in killing Love.
Christopher T. Andseron, fatally shot on Aug. 14, 2015, by a state trooper and a Manchester police officer in Bolton
Christopher Anderson, 53, was fatally shot by Eulizer, who was then a Manchester police officer, and state Trooper Brian Contenta after he refused to drop a knife in a standoff following a lengthy police chase through Manchester into Bolton, where Anderson crashed his car. Police were attempting to apprehend Anderson after he reportedly stole $2,650 from a bank in South Windsor. After getting out of the wrecked car near Route 6 in Bolton, an officer shot Anderson with a Taser, but Anderson pulled the probes from his chest and moved toward officers with a utility knife. He was then shot and killed. New London State’s Attorney Michael Regan said the officers acted within the law.
David Werblow, died after being shot with a Taser on March 15, 2015, by a Branford police officer
David Werblow, 41, died after Branford police Officer John Abey shot him with a Taser. Officials said Werblow was shot multiple times with the Taser when refusing and struggling with officers who were trying to get him out of a parked car. Earlier he had attempted to stop cars driving past him and get into them, officials reported. Werblow had a history of mental health issues, officials said. Platt said Abey was justified in the use of force.
Nicholas Rondinone can be reached at nrondinone@courant.com.
