RI Man Charged In November Shooting: Report

GROTON CITY, CT — Reports of gunfire on Nov. 3, 2019 in the late afternoon in a heavily-populated area of the city saw one man injured and a suspect on the run.

Two months later, on Friday Jan. 10, police charged Leonard Lacey, 26, of Wood River Junction, RI in connection with that shooting.

Lacey was picked up by Richmond, RI police, charged as a fugitive from justice, court records show. He waived extradition and was charged by Groton City police Friday.

As Patch reported then, it was around 3 in the afternoon when shots rang out on Ledyard Avenue. Police said a dispute "over a woman" and subsequent social media exchanges led to the shooting.

At the time, New London Police confirmed that a car with the victim inside went to the New London fire department's North Station. The victim was then taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital by the fire department.

Meanwhile, the suspect fled and a manhunt began for a male in a white hoodie who took off in a vehicle with Rhode Island tags with two other people.

In a release posted to Facebook on Nov. 3 by the office of Groton City Police Chief Michael Spellman, Connecticut State Police, Groton Town Police, New London Police and the New London States Attorney's Office were all part of the investigation.

As reported by The Day, and in a media release, police said three men showed up that day to a house on Ledyard Avenue for a fight with the victim related to the beef over a woman. Police charge that during the fight, Lacey fired a gun several times hitting the victim. At the time, police said his injuries were serious but not life non-threatening.

Lacey is due in court today, Monday Jan. 13.

In October, he was charged with reckless driving by Norwich Police.His re-arrest on that and other charges related to a traffic incident was ordered in December.