Suspect ID'd In Norwalk/West Haven Chase, Fatal Shooting: UPDATE

NORWALK, CT — A 19-year-old New Haven man has been identified as the victim who was fatally shot by a Connecticut State Trooper following a Norwalk-to-West Haven chase in a carjacking incident Wednesday afternoon.

Mubarak Soulemane, who was armed with a knife, was shot by Trooper Brian North on Campbell Avenue in West Haven. Soulemane initially was treated at the scene, and was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

North has been placed on administrative leave as a result of the shooting while the state police investigation continues.

Below is the state police account of the incident, which authorities said began with a carjacking in Norwalk on Route 7:

On January 15, 2020 at approximately 4:36 p.m., the Norwalk Police Department broadcast that they were looking for a stolen vehicle and provided a description of the vehicle via the Hotline. According to initial reports, Norwalk officers had responded to a reported armed carjacking, which occurred in their city. Norwalk officers subsequently located and attempted to stop the vehicle and the driver engaged officers in a pursuit on Route 7 southbound before Norwalk supervisors terminated the pursuit. A State Police dispatcher spoke with Norwalk Police regarding their BOLO (which stands for Be On the Look Out), and was told that the operator was armed with a knife. This vital information was necessary because the State Police Pursuit Policy adopted in September 2019 prevents Troopers from normally pursuing stolen vehicles unless the person pursued in the vehicle has committed, is attempting to commit or will imminently commit a crime of violence (actual or threatened), or there are articulable exigent circumstances that warrant the need to apprehend the suspect in a timely manner because of the potential for harm to the public if apprehension does not occur.

Soon afterwards, State Police Dispatch in Bridgeport began to receive calls reporting that a white Hyundai was traveling northbound on I-95 in a reckless manner; driving both along the right shoulder and center median at a high rate of speed. At 4:46 p.m., the white Hyundai was observed on DOT cameras travelling in the median at high speed prior to Exit 22 on I-95 northbound. State Police Dispatch continued to monitor the vehicle’s travel via DOT cameras until Troopers were able to get behind it in the vicinity of Exit 36. Troopers attempted to stop the Hyundai and the driver struck two State Police cruisers and continued northbound before exiting the highway off Exit 43 onto Campbell Avenue into the town of West Haven.

On Campbell Avenue, the Hyundai struck a civilian’s vehicle and was successfully boxed in by State Police.

State Police and West Haven Police attempted to get the driver out of the vehicle and initially deployed less-lethal means (Taser), which was ineffective. When the driver displayed a weapon (later determined to be a knife), a Trooper on scene discharged his assigned duty pistol, striking the driver.

Medical aid was rendered at the scene by State Police and West Haven Police until the driver could be transported by ambulance to Yale-New Haven Hospital. The driver later succumbed to his injuries.

There were no reported injuries to civilians, Troopers, or Officers on scene.

The Connecticut State Police - Central District Major Crime Squad (CDMCS) will be working with the New London State’s Attorney’s Office on the investigation of this police-involved shooting.

On January 16, 2020, an autopsy was conducted at the State of Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington. The decedent was thereafter positively identified as Mubarak Soulemane, age 19, of New Haven, Connecticut. Next of kin were notified and our detectives remain in contact with the family.

The Connecticut State Police Troopers involved in this incident were:

• Trooper Brian North, who has been with the State Police for 4 1⁄2 years
• Trooper Joshua Jackson, who has been with the State Police for 4 1⁄2 years
• Trooper First Class Ross Dalling, who has been with the State Police for 7 1⁄2 years

The investigation has determined that only Trooper North discharged his duty pistol. In accordance with Department policy, Trooper North has been placed on administrative assignment.

The Troopers involved in this incident had vehicles that were equipped with in-car cameras and they were also wearing body worn cameras; as a result, there is video and dispatcher audio. The Connecticut State Police and the New London Office of the State’s Attorney will work to release this video footage and dispatcher audio in the coming days.

The investigation is in its early stages and is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Connecticut State Police - Central District Major Crime Squad at 860-706-5656.

Original story: A suspect armed with a knife carjacked a vehicle in Norwalk Wednesday afternoon and led state police on a chase that resulted in the suspect being shot and killed by police in West Haven, reports News 12 Connecticut.

The incident began at 4:30 p.m. at the AT&T store on Route 7 in Norwalk.

The initial call to Norwalk police reported a disturbance at the store involving a suspect with a knife, and as officers drove to the scene, they learned that the suspect had stolen a vehicle.

"Responding officers observed the vehicle and attempted to stop it, however, the subject failed to stop," said Norwalk police in a statement. "Police supervisors terminated the brief pursuit and advised dispatch to notify surrounding agencies and the State Police of the description."

State police troopers soon spotted the vehicle and chased it on I-95 into West Haven, reports The Norwalk Hour.

The officer-involved shooting occurred on Campbell Avenue in West Haven. Authorities have not released the identity of the suspect.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding both the disturbance and vehicle theft.