2 Charged In Shooting In Meriden: Police

MERIDEN, CT — Two men were arrested in connection with a shooting Tuesday afternoon in Meriden, according to police.

Police responded around 1 p.m. to a report of a shooting in the 400 block of Crown Street. Police determined that a male suspect met with an unknown man in the parking lot, according to officials.

Police said the male shooter fired a round at the unknown man, as the man fled the parking lot in a vehicle.

The shooting suspect then ran into Crown Village at 525 Crown St., where he met up with a second suspect and handed the gun off to him, according to police.

The two men then entered a building at 525 Crown St., police said.

Members of the Meriden Police Patrol and Detective Division surrounded the building while waiting for the Meriden Police Department S.W.A.T. team to respond, according to police.

“While officers were on scene, the two males believed to be involved in the shooting exited the building and were taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit with one of the suspects,” police wrote in a news release. “A 9mm firearm was also recovered as part of this investigation.”

Police said the shooting suspect was identified as 22-year-old Christopher Echevarria. He was charged with criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault, carrying a pistol without a permit, criminal use of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and reckless endangerment.

Echevarria was being held in lieu of a $1 million bond, according to police.

Police said the suspected accomplice was identified as 23-year-old Elshaddai Morris. He was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, violation of a protective order, and interfering with police.

Morris was being held in lieu of a $500,000 bond, according to police. Morris had three additional arrest warrants when he was taken into custody, police said.

“The Meriden Police Department would like to acknowledge the information provided by citizens which helped us to apprehend these two individuals,” police wrote in the news release. “Our organization values the collaborative approach to policing and we are always eager to work with the community. We care about the safety of our residents.”