Bridgeport Teen Charged In Gunshot Incident At Trumbull Mall: Police

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A second teen was arrested Wednesday in connection to a May incident in which a gun was discharged inside the Trumbull Mall, according to Trumbull police.

In a news release, Police Lt. Brian Weir said a 16-year-old Bridgeport resident turned himself into police on an outstanding arrest warrant after officers identified him as the primary suspect involved in the May 29 incident.

Weir said Trumbull police detectives thoroughly investigated the incident, collecting various types of evidence and interviewing witnesses, which all lead to the identification of the Bridgeport teen as a primary suspect.

Trumbull police, with assistance from Bridgeport police, also executed a search warrant at the teen's home, where additional pieces of evidence linking him to the incident were found, according to Weir.

The 16-year-old male was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, illegal discharge of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, carrying a dangerous weapon, first-degree threatening and breach of peace.

He was turned over to the custody of the Juvenile Residential Center Superintendent at Bridgeport to be held and is scheduled to appear in juvenile court later this month, according to Weir.

Back in May, Weir said officers responded to the Trumbull Mall around 6:30 p.m. on Memorial Day after receiving several reports of a gun being fired near the mall's arcade.

According to Weir, two of the involved suspects ran out of the mall and into the parking lot as security officers chased after them but eventually lost sight of them.

See also: Teen Arrested After Gun Discharges Inside Trumbull Mall: Police

A responding police officer spotted and later arrested one of the suspects, a 15-year-old male, after he emerged from the tree line, walked up the Route 15 exit ramp and ran across Main Street, Weir said.

Officers learned a large group of teens had gathered near the mall's arcade where a fight broke out involving multiple juveniles. As mall security responded to break up the fight and escort the group out of the mall, two teens wearing ski masks began arguing and fighting with the security officers, Weir said.

As security tried to escort the group out of the mall, the two teens continued to taunt the officers. One teen raised his shirt and brandished a handgun that was tucked in his waistband, Weir said.

The gun then fell onto the floor, causing a bullet to discharge from the firearm and strike a sign hanging from the ceiling. No injuries were reported, Weir said.

Bridgeport, Westport, Monroe and state police, along with police K9's, responded as mutual aid to assist in securing the scene and tracking down the suspects, Weir said.

The 15-year-old male was charged with breach of peace and hazardous use of a highway by a pedestrian.