CT police investigating 4 shootings in 7 hours — 3 in same neighborhood over Memorial Day weekend

Police were investigating four shootings that happened within a span of several hours over Memorial Day weekend, including three that occurred in the PT Barnum Housing community — one on a basketball court.

Shots rang out in the city four separate times on Saturday night and Sunday morning, prompting Bridgeport’s Chief of Police to speak out about the spree of violent crime and the extra precautions being taken in the city as investigators worked to find the assailants.

“The Bridgeport Police Department is deeply concerned and saddened by the series of shootings that occurred last night,” Bridgeport Police Department Chief Roderick Porter said in a statement Sunday. “On what should have been an evening of celebration and community gathering, to honor our Veterans, instead we experienced a tragic outbreak of violence across our city.”

Porter said in his statement that multiple people were recovering from gun shot injuries on Sunday and that detectives were worked to piece together what happened in each incident.

“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We have had several individuals injured, and we are doing everything in our power to support them and their loved ones during this difficult time,” he said.

“We want to assure the residents of Bridgeport that we are fully committed to finding those responsible for these senseless acts of violence.”

Bridgeport police first responded to the housing complex at 8:10 p.m. for a ShotSpotter activation near building 6 in the housing complex, but could not find a victim. Then, at 9:25 p.m., a 22-year-old man showed up at Yale New Haven Hospital with gunshot wounds to his hand and leg, according to the Bridgeport Police Department.

Investigators learned he had been shot in the PT Barnum Housing complex around 8 p.m. He was listed in stable condition, police said.

At 10:50 p.m., officers responded to the community again for a ShotSpotter activation near buildings 12, 13 and 17 in the complex.

At 11 p.m., officers found a 21-year-old man in a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound, police said. The man was in stable condition and his injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

A dark-colored vehicle with tinted windows was seen fleeing the scene, police said, heading east toward Bostwick Avenue around the time of the shooting.

About 15 minutes later, a 22-year-old man arrived at a nearby hospital with a single gunshot wound to his groin. He reported that he’d been shot while walking near Read School at 130 Ezra St., but investigators were not able to locate a crime scene there, police said.

The man was listed in serious condition, according to police, and the department was seeking the public’s help in solving the crime as they canvassed the area and conducted interviews.

Early Sunday morning, officers responded to another ShotSpotter alert near the PT Barnum Housing complex at about 2:30 a.m., between the 300 block of Bostwick Avenue and the 100 block of Anthony Street.

Investigators found evidence of a crime scene on a basketball court near one of the housing buildings, police said.

Officers learned from emergency dispatchers that the victim had run off toward the housing complex. While searching the area, they found a 21-year-old man from Bridgeport suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg, police said.

The man was rushed to a nearby hospital in an ambulance. He was listed in stable condition as of Sunday morning and his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, police said.

The department’s detective bureau had taken charge of the investigation. Their Forensic Identification Unit had secured and processed the scene on the basketball court, police said.

In his statement, the chief recognized that residents might be feeling on edge the rest of the holiday weekend in the wake of the shootings.

“We understand that these events have the potential to shake our community, and we want to reassure you that we are taking all necessary measures to prevent further violence. We will continue to work closely with community leaders, local organizations, and residents to address the underlying issues that contribute to such violence and to enhance the safety and security of our city,” he said.

Porter said the department has increased patrols in the neighborhoods where the crimes occurred and “are working around the clock to gather information and follow up on leads” as detectives interviewed witnesses and reviewed evidence.

The chief also put out a call to residents to come forward with information on any of the shootings.

“We ask for the community’s help during this critical time. If you have any information related to these incidents, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please come forward,” he said. “Your cooperation is vital to our efforts to bring those responsible to justice and restore peace to our neighborhoods. Information can be provided anonymously if you prefer.”

Anyone with information about any of the incidents can use the department’s tip line at 203-576-TIPS.