Crime & Safety

Fired Employee Returns With BB Gun: Hamden Police

Police say the man returned to the store dressed in all black with a ski mask on and appeared to have a gun tucked in his waistband.

HAMDEN, CT — A Hamden man is accused of returning to Family Dollar two hours after he was fired with what appeared to be a gun while wearing a ski mask, according to police. Hamden Police responded to the store, located at 1245 Dixwell Avenue, on May 24 on the report of suspicious activity. Store personnel told police that a man entered the store “dressed in all black with a ski mask on,” according to Capt. Ronald Smith.

Sgt. Jason Venditto, Sgt. Michael Nawrocki and Det. Michael DePalma arrived shortly thereafter and saw a male leaving the store, wearing black clothing and a white plastic face mask, according to Smith. The man had what appeared to be a firearm tucked in his waistband. Smith said further investigation revealed that the firearm was in fact a bb gun.

Officers learned that the man, who was later identified as Jesus Alvarado, was a former employee at Family Dollar that was terminated two hours earlier, according to Smith. He was promptly arrested and taken to police headquarters.

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Alvarado, 23, of Mill Rock Road in Hamden, was charged with breach of peace, carrying a dangerous weapon and possession of a facsimile firearm. Alvarado, who was detained on a $1,000 bond, is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on June 7.

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Pictured: Jesus Alvarado, 23, of Hamden / via the Hamden Police Department

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