Deadly Force Was Justified In Manchester Standoff, Report Says

MANCHESTER, CT — A report compiled by State's Attorney Matthew Gedansky has determined that the use of deadly force during a police standoff in Manchester last spring was justified.

The report was released by the state Department of Criminal Justice Friday. Gedansky is the state's attorney at Rockville Superior Court in Vernon and was charged with investigating the officer-involved shooting.

The man killed in the standoff was identified in a preliminary report by Gedansky as 27-year-old Jose Soto, who was wanted for parole violation in relation to a conviction for first-degree robbery. The incident took police at about 7:30 p.m. at 181 Oak St. on April 2. The state Department of Corrections Parole Fugitive Unit was attempting to issue a warrant to Soto and things went awry, reports indicate.

According to reports, Soto's mother answered the door but Soto then began threatening to shoot people and barricaded himself in the basement.

Gedansky said it was determined that Soto "was not going to go with (officers) peacefully." The decision was then made to call the Capital Region Emergency Service Team. CREST is a regional SWAT team made up of officers from the Coventry, Cromwell, East Windsor, Enfield, Glastonbury, Manchester, Rocky Hill, South Windsor, Vernon, Wethersfield and University of Connecticut police departments.

CREST was not using body cameras at the time.

Gedansky said CREST team members set up a perimeter around the house and began to speak with Soto by telephone. He eventually agreed to come out of the house, at which time, "a confrontation occurred," Gedansky said. He made hand motions that led officer to believe he had a gun and was going to use it, according to the report.

Four officers with the CREST team then fired their weapons, hitting Soto, he said.

Emergency crews at the scene rendered "immediate medical aid" to Soto, who was transported to Hartford Hospital, where he later died, Gedansky said.

No officers or civilians were injured.

Detectives from the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime squad also responded to the scene and assisted Gedansky with the investigation.

The report says that a woman who was the mother a child she had with Soto, stated that on or about 7:30 that night, she received a call on her phone and declined it. The report further says that the phone rang again and it was answered. Soto then said, "Don't freak out, but it's (Jose). The cops are at my mom's house. I'm going to have a shootout."

The report indicates Soto also said on the call he had a gun.

Gedansky also included a message for those Soto left behind.

"I would like to again extend my condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Soto," he said. "Over the course of this investigation, I have gotten to know his family. From many conversations with his family, especially his stepfather, I have learned that he was loved. He was a son, a stepson, a brother, and a father. And he will be missed by his family."