Man Gets 15 Years For Fair Haven Shooting, Attempted Shooting Of Cop

NEW HAVEN, CT —Marcus Rivera of New Haven was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the December 2018 shooting of a woman in Fair Haven and the January 2019 attempted shooting of New Haven police Detective Francisco Sanchez, according to John P. Doyle, Jr., New Haven State’s Attorney.

Rivera's prison sentence will be suspended after 7 ½ years served, followed by five years of conditional discharge, Boyle said.

According to court records, on Jan. 8, 2019, Rivera "pointed a firearm in the direction of Detective Sanchez while fleeing from New Haven police detectives," Boyle said. There was an exchange of gunfire and Rivera was "struck in his pelvis area," Boyle said.

The facts and circumstances surrounding the incident were investigated by the Western District Major Crime Squad of the Connecticut State Police in 2019, Boyle said. He said that Sanchez was justified by state law in using deadly physical force.

Rivera entered guilty pleas Dec. 22, 2022 to charges of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Carrying a Pistol Without a Permit and Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Sell. Rivera also entered guilty pleas to Assault in the First Degree and Carrying a Pistol Without a Permit.

Link to the report is here.

These cases were prosecuted by Doyle and Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa R. Holmes. Supervisory Inspector Robert Sage of the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in this investigation.

The State’s Attorney thanks the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad for their thorough investigation of the January 2019 incident and the New Haven Police Department for their cooperation and professionalism during the pendency of that investigation and for their own investigation of the December 2018 incident.