A delivery man turned the tables on a robber when the victim wrestled the suspect’s gun out of his hands, according to New Haven police.
Shawn Pauls, 23, faces charges of criminal possession of a firearm, first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny and first-degree threatening in connection with the incident.
According to police, the victim, who was not publicly identified, works as a delivery man for a local take-out restaurant and was delivering pizza to 147 Colony Road just before 3 a.m. Wednesday when the incident occurred.
According to the victim, when he arrived at the address he called the number provided in the order and was approached by a man. When the victim told the man he owed him $37, the man allegedly pulled a gun from his pocket and demanded money. The victim reported that the suspect threatened to shoot him multiple times during the encounter, police said.
Police said the victim handed the man cash and soft drinks from the car. The suspect then demanded the suspect’s wallet. When the victim said he didn’t have one, the suspect went through his pockets and demanded the victim open his vehicle’s glove box.
At this point, the victim prepared for a struggle, wrestled the gun out of the suspect’s hands and fired at the suspect. The suspect fled and the victim flagged down an officer for help, police said.
The victim explained the situation to police and pointed them to the gun, which was underneath the pizzas on his passenger seat. Police said they found several bullet casings at the scene.
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Later that morning, police responded to Yale-New Haven Hospital for a reported gunshot victim. According to police the patient was dropped off in a vehicle that matched the description of a car a witness reported seeing leave the Colony Road scene.
The patient, who was suffering minor injury, was identified as Pauls, a previously convicted felon. Pauls claimed he was shot in Hamden, but police said the victim identified Pauls as the man who robbed him.
Pauls was arrested and police said he later confessed to the Colony Road robbery.
The investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.
