The Connecticut Office of Inspector General released body camera footage and a preliminary report from an officer-involved shooting in Hartford over the weekend that shows an officer opening fire at a man who was shooting a gun in the direction of someone else.
Officer Devanand Budhoo of the Hartford Police Department was dispatched just after 12:10 a.m. Saturday to Wethersfield Avenue on a report of a hit-and-run crash. While speaking to the driver whose vehicle was damaged, Budhoo reportedly heard gunshots go off, according to the report released by Inspector General Robert Devlin Jr.
Devlin wrote in his report that the gunshots appeared to be coming from the house across the street on Wethersfield Avenue.
The footage from Budhoo’s body camera shows him speaking to a man involved in the crash when two gunshots can be heard, which are then followed by two more rounds of gunfire. Budhoo then radios in that “we got shots fired” at the home just as a man, later identified as 30-year-old Hartford man, emerges from the house running, the footage shows.
Just a few seconds later, a second man, identified as 34-year-old Hartford resident Luis Ortiz, can be seen exiting the front door of the home in what appears to be in pursuit of the first man, the bodycam footage shows. According to Devlin’s report, Ortiz was firing shots in his direction.
Budhoo’s bodycam footage shows him pointing his firearm in the direction of Ortiz and yelling, “Hey, get down. Get down.” He then fires two shots toward the direction of Ortiz as the first man drops down to the ground behind a car, the footage shows.
No one was struck by gunfire.
Budhoo then rushes toward the home after Ortiz goes back inside and closes the door, the footage shows. He calls in that he has “a party down” and gives a description of the suspect as he stands outside the home, where voices inside can be heard. The footage also shows Budhoo instructing someone else at the scene to check on the first man.
The bodycam footage cuts off shortly after Budhoo says the suspect ran back into the apartment building and that he needs additional units to secure the perimeter.
According to Devlin’s report, Hartford officers later arrested Ortiz on firearm charges. Court records show he is facing charges of illegal discharge of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal use of a weapon, attempt to commit first-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment.
Ortiz remains held on a $750,000 bond following his arraignment Monday in Hartford Superior Court, records show. He is due back in court on June 5.
Devlin is investigating the officer-involved shooting with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad, Hartford Police Department and the Hartford Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office. The Inspector General is tasked with determining whether Budhoo’s use of deadly force was justified.
