East Hartford PD Justified In Deadly Shooting: State Attorney

EAST HARTFORD, CT — The State's Attorney office has concluded that East Hartford Police officers were justified to use deadly force after a man broke into an apartment and led police on a high-speed destructive chase.

Police were contacted by a woman who said her brother Juan McCray broke into an apartment Feb. 4, 2018 and earlier in the day had stolen his grandmother's car. She also said he was high on drugs and dangerous. He also had outstanding arrest warrants, according to the state attorney's report.

A subsequent toxicology report found that he had amphetamines, cocaine, PCP, cannabinoids and benzodiazepines in his system.

McCray was a five-time convicted felon with a history of discipline issues in prison.

East Hartford Police were dispatched to Turtle Creek to investigate the apartment break-in. Officers spotted the stolen vehicle on Burnside Avenue and attempted to pull it over. McCray ran from the Nissan and fought with officers as they tried to take him into custody during which time he yelled, "[expletive] no, I'm not going back," referring to going back to prison.

Three officers tried to get McCray under control and a TASER had no effect on him. He then entered the Nissan and tried to leave. Officers surrounded the vehicle and Sgt. Joseph Ficacelli struggled to pull McCray from the vehicle. Ficacelli fired a shot toward McCray.

Additional officers pursued McCray in the stolen Nissan as the original officers awaited medical attention.

McCray refused to pull over for other officers and fled into Glastonbury. He was driving at least 60 mph on town roads and at least 85 mph on the highway, according to the report. He nearly struck a pedestrian and other vehicles during the pursuit. He also struck guide rails, a street sign, trees and multiple police cars.

McCray's vehicle left the roadway on two occasions and he drove directly at officers.

"He evinced an extreme indifference to human life generally and constituted a grave public safety risk to other motorists, pedestrians and, particularly, the police officers trying to apprehend him over the course of a pursuit that took place over many miles in two towns," wrote State's Attorney Brian Preleski.

Eventually after mass destruction the Nissan stopped near 2187 New London Turnpike in Glastonbury. One officer fired at the vehicle to try and immobilize it, but struck the tire rim. The Nissan continued to move forward and backward and another officer fired at McCray at which point the vehicle stopped moving.

McCray didn't stop and drove in reverse toward an officer. At this point multiple officers fired at McCray. A total of 36 bullets were fired by officers between the two scenes.

"Under these circumstances, the United States Supreme Court has found the use of deadly force by officers to be reasonable and in this case, it is unquestionable that any reasonable officer confronting the same scenario would have found the use of deadly force necessary," Preleski wrote.

Image via State Attorney's office