Shooting Victim Charged In Robbery At Gas Station: Hamden Police

HAMDEN, CT — A Hamden man has been charged in connection with a shooting that left him injured during an attempted robbery in a gas station parking lot in July, according to police.

Police responded to the Gulf Express gas station at 144 Arch Street around 4 p.m. on July 22 on reports of a shooting.

The shooting victim, later identified as 28-year-old Anthony Coppage, was inside his car in the parking lot, according to Detective Sean J. Dolan.

Dolan said Coppage was approached by two suspects who attempted to rob him during an apparent drug transaction.

One of the suspects shot Coppage during the robbery. He suffered gunshot wounds to his leg, causing serious injuries, according to Dolan.

Dolan said Coppage has a Connecticut pistol permit and was armed.

“He returned fire at the suspects as they were running away in the gas station parking lot with multiple bystanders nearby,” Dolan wrote in a news release. “The two robbery suspects fled the scene prior to police arrival.”

Detective Gabe Garcia, along with detectives from the Hamden Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit, HPD Crime Scene Unit and New Haven Shooting Task Force, conducted an extensive investigation into the shooting.

Coppage was arrested Wednesday on a warrant in connection with the shooting. He was charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment. He was held in lieu of a $150,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 26.

One of the suspected robbers, 22-year-old Samuel Tate, was previously arrested. He was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, criminal possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment. He was arrested Aug. 25 and was being held in lieu of a $500,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 25, according to state judicial records.

Dolan said the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.