Restaurant Owner Shot At Twice During Armed Robbery: Bridgeport Police

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A local restaurant owner was shot at twice and injured during an armed robbery over Thanksgiving weekend, police said.

At 5:20 p.m. on Nov. 25, police responded to 264 Wood Avenue, Bridgeport, CT (Peking Chinese Restaurant).

Police said the Peking Chinese Restaurant was "subject of a violent armed robbery."

"During the course of the robbery, the 48-year-old restaurant owner was shot at twice," police said in a news release. "Bullet projectiles shattered equipment in the business that fragmented and struck him in the face. The restaurant owner was transported to a local hospital, treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and released. Fortunately, the store owner was not killed."

After reviewing video recordings at the crime scene, the Robbery Squad Sergeant recognized the suspect and immediately broadcast his name and descriptions via police radio to responding officers and surrounding jurisdictions, police said.

In under an hour, the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Derrick Rivera of Bridgeport, was located by Stratford Police sitting inside a vehicle along Fotch Street in Stratford, police said. Upon seeing police, Rivera fled the vehicle on foot, police said, but he was promptly apprehended by police in the rear yards off Honeyspot Road, police said.

Rivera was placed under arrest and transported to the Bridgeport Police Department where he was charged with first-degree robbery, criminal attempt — murder, first-degree assault, criminal attempt — first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, carrying a pistol without a permit and illegal discharge of a firearm.

His bond was set at $500,000.

The Bridgeport Police Department and Stratford Police Department had excellent communication early on in this investigation," Bridgeport police said in a news release. "This resulted in the speedy arrest of a violent suspect that was a clear danger to the public. Thank you for your hard work."