Dog Killed, Man Charged After Shooting at Coventry Home: Update

COVENTRY/MANSFIELD/VERNON, CT — Coventry and state police have attested a Coventry man for attempted murder and other charges after he peppered a house with bullets Wednesday night, authorities said.

At 7:27 p.m. on Wednesday, Coventry police received a 911 call from a resident inside a house on Flanders Road, who believed shots were being fire at the house, according to a report.

The resident also told police someone was trying to kick in the door, according to a report.

Coventry Police, with the assistance of state police, responded to the scene and found that the suspect had left in a vehicle, according to a report.

At least 20 rounds were shot into the house, police said. No people inside the house were injured, but a dog was hit by a bullet and was later euthanized because of its injuries, police said. A woman was inside watching two children who lived there, police said.

UConn and state police units located the suspect vehicle on Route 32 in Mansfield. The vehicle failed to stop for officers and eventually traveled onto Interstate-84, according to a report. At one point, the suspect was driving in excess of 90 mph, police said.

The vehicle was stopped on the highway near Exit 66 in Vernon and the suspect was apprehended, police said. He had thrown a Glock handgun from the vehicle during the chase, state police said.

The suspect was identified on Thursday as 36-year-old Daniel Ballard of Coventry. He was charged with:

• Criminal attempt to commit murder
• Criminal attempt to commit home invasion
• Criminal attempt to commit first-degree burglary
• First-degree reckless endangerment
• Risk of injury to a minor (two counts)
• Unlawful discharge of a firearm

Ballard was arraigned in Rockville Superior Court on Thursday and is being held on a combined bond of
$1.025 million, police said.

State police charged him with first-degree reckless endangerment, engaging police in a pursuit, reckless driving, and throwing objects from a motor vehicle. The car was unregistered and uninsured, state police said.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

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