BRIDGEPORT, CT – On Sunday in Connecticut, a police officer became involved in a shooting in Ansonia. This resulted in the death of a motorist who fled from a vehicle stop in Bridgeport, according to law enforcement officials.
Bridgeport police were conducting an investigation into violations of weapons and narcotics laws on Oak Street when they attempted to conduct a felony stop of a vehicle around 5:10 p.m. The driver then fled the scene, traveling north up Route 8 through several towns, finally coming to a halt on Division Street in Ansonia, 14 miles from the initial stop.
The shooting occurred once the driver had stopped on Division Street. The details of the shooting, however, have yet to be released by officials.
The unidentified suspect was transported to Griffin Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Barbara Mankewich, who has identified herself as the mother of the deceased, named her deceased son as 41-year-old Jonathan Bell.
Mankewich expressed her disappointment and grief over her son’s fate but also acknowledged his struggles with drug abuse. She had not been in contact with him for over a year due to his lifestyle. Mankewich stated that while she mourns her son’s death, she believes he is no longer suffering from addiction and that her family can rest without the daily worry about him.
An investigation into the fatal incident is now being carried out by the Office of the Inspector General, Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad, and the Ansonia/Milford Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office.
Adhering to departmental protocol, any Bridgeport police officers involved in the incident will be assigned to modified duties until a determination is made by the Office of the Inspector General.