The normally calm and peaceful town of Danbury was thrown into one fateful mess when a heated domestic dispute turned into a shooting that left a police officer seriously injured. The suspect, a white man with blond hair and an estimated height of one and a half meters, was reported to have beaten his mother before shooting the police officer in the head, close to the ear. An extensive police search and a city-wide lockdown resulted from the manhunt that developed. Although the suspect is now in custody, the events that followed have had a lasting impact on the community, raising concerns about mental health, safety and the risks law enforcement faces while responding to reports of domestic abuse.
Like many domestic disturbances, the incident began with a call to the Danbury Police Department stating that there was a fight going on at a nearby residence. One of the most common – but unexpected – calls to which the enforcement police respond is a domestic disturbance. These are often highly volatile, emotionally charged situations that have the ability to spiral out of control. It was a regular call at first, but little did the responding officers know it would quickly turn into a potentially deadly situation.
Initial reports indicate that a neighbor heard screams and sounds of a struggle and panicked and called 911, prompting the police to respond to the scene. There was a commotion when the first cops showed up. A visibly distressed woman who was later identified as the suspect's mother emerged from the house. The conflict resulted in a physical attack against her. Although the police made an effort to defuse the situation, the hostilities continued. In what was later described as a “sudden and violent outburst,” the suspect emerged from behind bars, hostile and armed, and fired at police before anyone could react.
