A Derby police officer shot a man who had approached him for help before the man then opened fire on a passing car, according to police.
A Derby police officer shot a person who was firing at a passing car in Ansonia, near the Derby line, Monday morning, according to police.
The officer shot the man in the leg and he is in stable condition, according to police. The suspect was arrested and faces gun charges.
Police said a patrol officer was at a traffic light at Division Street and Atwater Avenue around 7 a.m. when two males in distress approached the vehicle, pounded on the window and asked for help.
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The officer had the two males move to the curb while assessing the situation and one of the people who had approached the police car fired several shots at a passing vehicle, according to police.
The officer fired at the person who had the gun, striking him in the leg, police said.
Police identified the suspect as 29-year-old Corneilus Mccullough of Derby.
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Erick Barone said he heard a series of shots go off moments before he saw the victim on the ground.
"I went running to the window, as I was doing that, about five more shots rang out," Barone said.
Police said they found a gun at the scene.
Candice Chavers is Mccullough's aunt and the mother of the 16-year-old young man he was with. She said the pair thought a car was suspicious and said they did not have a gun.
"He did not have a gun, he does not have a gun. My son is an honor student, 16 years old," Chavers told NBC Connecticut.
Chavers said her son was not hurt but he is trying to recover emotionally.
"He’s traumatized, he doesn’t even want to talk to nobody right now," Chavers said.
Mccullough, who was taken to Bridgeport Hospital for treatment of his injury, was later taken to Connecticut State Police Troop G and charged with carrying a pistol without a permit and criminal possession of a firearm. He was held on a $300,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Police said the other driver was not hurt and is cooperating with the investigation.
State Police Major Crimes is investigating.
