Bridgeport Man Charged In Connection With Stamford Shooting: SPD

STAMFORD, CT — Police announced Wednesday that they have made an arrest in connection with one of the two shootings that occurred hours apart on Stamford's West Side on March 14.

According to Capt. Richard Conklin of the Stamford Police Department, Tyrik McRae, 22, of Bridgeport, was arrested Tuesday afternoon outside of an apartment building on Perry Street on a warrant that charges him with possession of a pistol without a permit; first-degree criminal attempt at assault; unlawful discharge of a firearm; weapons in a motor vehicle; and first-degree reckless endangerment.

McRae posted a $500,000 bond and was released. He's scheduled to appear in court April 12, Conklin said.

An arrest warrant for McRae was obtained shortly after March 14, Conklin said, adding that police received information McRae would be at an apartment on Perry Street in Stamford on Tuesday, near where the shootings took place.

"Investigators set up surveillance, and within an hour they saw him leave the complex and go to enter a car. They moved in and placed him under arrest without incident," Conklin said.

Conklin said McRae's arrest warrant is related to the first shooting, which took place around 3 p.m. on March 14 at the intersection of Richmond Hill Avenue and Anne Street.

Police said preliminary information showed the shooting took place between two cars as they passed through the intersection.

A 72-year-old man suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the shoulder while he was working on a car nearby. Police said at the time the man was not the intended target.

Approximately 16 shell casings were recovered from the scene.

"We're trying to see through ballistic forensic analysis if they were all fired from the same gun. Certainly we're putting a lot of effort into this," Conklin said, noting that a gun has not been recovered yet. "This is still very much an ongoing investigation into his shooting, and the shooting later that evening."

The second shooting occurred around 7:45 p.m. on March 14.

Investigators at the first scene heard gunshots and located a 26-year-old victim nearby, who was shot in the face but still conscious, police said.

Police said the victim was shot on Rose Park Avenue near the intersection of West Main Street, and ran away from the area where he was then found by responding officers.

Police said at the time the shootings could be connected to each other.

On March 17, police arrested John Spencer, 27, at his home on Perry Street, and charged him with two counts of criminal possession of a firearm; altering the serial number on a firearm; criminal possession of ammunition; possession of a high capacity magazine; violation of a protective order and possession of narcotics. Conklin said officers found about 2.5 grams of crack cocaine.

Police said they are looking to see if Spencer and the firearms that were seized are related to the shootings.

Anyone with information on the shootings is asked to call the SPD's Major Crimes Unit at 203-977-4417.

Residents can also contact the Major Crimes Unit by sending an anonymous text tip via their cell phone by texting keyword STAMFORDPD and their message/tip to 847411.