New Haven Man Pleads On 2019 Attempted Assault In Gunfight With Cop

NEW HAVEN, CT — A 26-year-old New Haven man pleaded guilty to trying to shoot a police detective in 2019 and to shooting a woman in Fair Haven in 2018, according to New Haven State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr.

Marcus Rivera entered guilty pleas last week to charges of first degree attempted assault, attempted assault on a public safety officer, carrying a pistol without a permit and possession of narcotics with the intent to sell. Those charges stem from a January 2019 attempted shooting of NHPD Detective Francisco Sanchez, Doyle said.

Rivera also pleaded guilty to first degree assault and carrying a pistol without a permit for the shooting of a woman in the Fair Haven section of New Haven in December 2018, Doyle said.

Under the terms of a plea deal, he faces a maximum of 10 years and a minimum of five to serve in prison followed by three years of probation when Rivera is sentenced in New Haven Superior Court March 8, 2023, Doyle said.

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

The state police Western District Major Crime Squad investigated and found that, "based on the facts in this case, Detective Sanchez was justified under (state law) in using deadly physical force."

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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 their own investigation of the December 2018 incident," Doyle was quoted as saying.