Stamford Officer Avoids Gunfire During Major Drug Bust: PD

STAMFORD, CT — It was a very frightening situation for Stamford Police Officer Bryan Cooper who was fired upon by a suspected drug dealer and narrowly avoided being shot, police say. Officers were able to apprehend both suspects and removed 40 bags of fentanyl, several grams of crack cocaine and marijuana from Stamford streets, police said.

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon on Seaton Road. Officers from the Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit were investigating a reported delivery of fentanyl and other narcotics to Stamford when they came upon the suspected vehicle.

Police began to move in on the accused men seated in the vehicle and Cooper was within a few feet of the driver's door when Lawrence Lynwood Moore, 30, of Bridgeport produced a handgun and began firing at the officer, police said.

Cooper was able to find cover and avoid being struck by gunfire, and officers were able to arrest the two occupants of the vehicle without returning fire, police said. Both men were taken into custody without injury, police said.

Besides the drugs, police seized the stolen firearm that was used to shoot at Cooper.

Moore, a convicted felon, was charged with criminal attempt at murder, criminal possession of a firearm, theft of a firearm, reckless endangerment, possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics with the intent to sell. He was given a $1 million bond.

The passenger of the vehicle, Mathew Gregory Sholomicky, was charged with possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics with the intent to sell.

"We are extremely grateful that no one was injured during this incident," police said in a statement. "We are extremely proud of the professionalism and poise while under fire displayed by the Stamford Police Officers. They were able to remove more of the dangerous drug fentanyl from the streets of Stamford, recover a stolen handgun and take two dangerous people off the street, and fortunately they were all able to go home safely to their families."