VIDEO: West Hartford Cops Fired At Middletown Homicide Suspect In Hartford Chase: State

HARTFORD/WEST HARTFORD, CT — Three West Hartford police officers fired their weapons at a homicide suspect during a pursuit in Hartford after authorities said the man first fired three shots at an officer and later tried to take a vehicle at gunpoint.

The Connecticut Office of Inspector General released preliminary findings Saturday, Oct. 3, from its investigation into the Sept. 29 officer-involved shooting on Flatbush Avenue in Hartford.

Among the findings released were body and dashboard camera footage of the chase/shootout.

The incident began after Middletown police issued a "be on the lookout" alert at about 10:15 p.m. for a black Subaru Outback believed to be driven by the suspect in a homicide that occurred earlier that day in Middletown, according to the Inspector General's Office.

At about 10:48 p.m., West Hartford police received a Flock camera alert for the Subaru.

Officers located it near New Park and Oakwood avenues and began pursuing it, investigators said.

Police deployed stop sticks, which deflated at least one of the Subaru's tires, but the vehicle continued into Hartford on Flatbush Avenue. Hartford officers then joined the pursuit.

Authorities identified the driver as Barrington Brown, 43, whose last known address was in Middletown.

In addition to murder, Brown has been charged with second-degree stalking and the illegal discharge of a firearm in connection with the death of a woman in Middletown.

According to the Inspector General's preliminary findings, Brown twice opened the driver's-side door of the Subaru shortly after crossing Hillside Avenue and fired a total of three shots at West Hartford Police Officer Christian Montesdeoca, who was directly behind the Subaru.

After the third shot, Montesdeoca returned fire through the windshield of his police cruiser, investigators said.

Brown then stopped and ran between residences at 56-58 and 50-52 Flatbush Ave., with West Hartford and Hartford officers pursuing him on foot.

Investigators said Brown jumped a fence and approached a running Acura occupied by a 17-year-old boy in the driver's seat and a 19-year-old man in the passenger seat.

Brown allegedly displayed a firearm and ordered them out of the vehicle.

As the two occupants attempted to leave through the front passenger door, the 17-year-old suffered a superficial gunshot wound to his buttock, according to the Inspector General's Office.

Investigators said it has not yet been determined whether the teenager was shot by Brown or by police.

Brown entered the Acura and attempted to drive out of the parking area, investigators said. Three West Hartford officers then fired their duty weapons at him from an area along a chain-link fence.

The officers were identified as:

• Officer Christian Montesdeoca
• Sgt. Raymond Narciso
• Officer Amber Prose

Brown then got out of the Acura, raised his arms, and surrendered, according to investigators. Detectives later recovered a black handgun next to the vehicle.

Brown suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Officers provided medical aid before he was taken to Hartford Hospital for treatment.

He was subsequently arrested by Middletown police, discharged from the hospital and arraigned in Middletown Superior Court on charges related to the homicide investigation, according to the Inspector General's Office.

No officers suffered physical injuries. The 17-year-old was treated at Connecticut Children's Medical Center and released early Sept. 30.

West Hartford Police Chief Vernon Riddick Jr. said the department would fully cooperate with the Inspector General's investigation.

"As depicted in the accompanying videos included in the Office of Inspector General's press release, West Hartford Police Officers, confronted with an immediate and dangerous threat, put their lives at risk while taking action to effect the arrest of a suspect wanted in connection with a domestic violence homicide," Riddick said.

The Office of Inspector General and Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad are continuing to investigate the police use of deadly force.

To view the dashcam video from Officer Montesdeoca’s police cruiser, click here.

To view a slow-motion version of Montesdeoca’s dashcam video, click here.

To view body-worn camera video from Sergeant Narciso, click here.

To view body-worn camera video from Officer Montesdeoca, click here.

To view body-worn camera video from Officer Prose, click here.

For more information on the preliminary report, click on this link.

From Oct. 1: 'Middletown Man Shot By Police While Fleeing Homicide Scene Held On $3 Million Bond'