CT man accused of standing in middle of street, firing multiple gunshots at dirt bike rider

Police arrested a 24-year-old man on Tuesday for allegedly brazenly firing multiple gunshots at a dirt bike rider while standing in the middle of the street in broad daylight in Bridgeport last week.

Javon Beal of Bridgeport was taken into custody without incident by Bridgeport Task Force officers and the Bridgeport Police Homicide Squad inside a local store near the intersection of Stratford and Hollister Avenues around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the Bridgeport Police Department.

Police said Beal had two active warrants at the time of his arrest. One of the warrants was for an attempted shooting on Stratford Avenue. According to police, Beal is a convicted felon, making it illegal for him to possess weapons or ammunition.

Beal was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment, as well as sixth-degree larceny on a separate warrant. His total bond was set at $275,000, police said.

The investigation into the Stratford Avenue shooting was led by Homicide Squad Detective Keith Hanson. Investigators determined that, on June 5 around 2:30 p.m., Beal allegedly fired multiple rounds at a male who was operating a red dirt bike traveling eastbound through the intersection of Union and Stratford Avenues.  According to police, Beal allegedly fired the shots while standing in the middle of the street on Stratford Avenue and then fled the area on foot.

“The Stratford Avenue shooting has sparked outrage in the East End community,” police said in a release on Wednesday. “The shooting occurred in the middle of the day, on a busy street, and near Dunbar School. Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter Sr. and Detective Bureau Captain Kevin Gilleran made this case a priority and have facilitated an expedited arrest.”

According to police, the arrest warrant for Beal was signed within four days, and the chief ordered extra uniformed patrols in the area.