Bridgeport Police Shooting: Officer That Fatally Shot Teenager Identified

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Patrolman James Boulay, 30, was identified by Police Chief A.J. Perez Thursday as the officer who fatally shot 15-year-old Jayson Negron during the investigation into a stolen car, according to multiple media reports. Boulay has been placed on administrative leave pending results of the investigation, a common practice among police departments nationwide.

An autopsy shows that Negron died from gunshot wounds to the chest, and the death was listed as a homicide, according to multiple media reports. Perez further stated that Boulay had no record of discipline while on the force, is an army veteran and has been on the force for one year.

Perez defended Boulay's actions during a press conference Wednesday, calling the incident that left the man's passenger and three officers injured a "police officer's worst nightmare."

"Based on all information that I have received, and I have not heard anything that would dissuade me, our officers acted within guidelines of law and department policy," said the city's police chief during the press conference flanked by Mayor Joe Ganim and community leaders Wednesday afternoon.

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State police say that officers tried to stop a stolen vehicle on Park Avenue at around 5 p.m. Tuesday and Negron, the driver, sped off in the wrong direction on Fairfield Avenue and hitting several vehicles along Fairfield Avenue.

Once Negron stopped and officers approached, the vehicle reversed and collided with a Bridgeport officer. Police say a second officer fired one round, striking both the driver and the passenger who was identified as Julian Fyffe, 21, of Bridgeport.

When Negron was accelerating in reverse, the officer became pinned under the vehicle, according to the police chief.

Hundreds gathered on Park and Fairfield Avenues Wednesday for a vigil and rally at the site of the shooting, where citizens paid tribute to Negron. Two dozen blue balloons were released into the air, with Perez and Ganim on hand in the crowds. By most accounts, the gathering was peaceful.

Information about Negron's hometown were not released, however word that the person involved was a Stratford student circulated on social media and sparked outrage among community members. Stratford Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson issued a letter to parents Wednesday afternoon offering support to students who may be upset by "rumors," adding that the district did not have any information on the shooting.

"All of our young people are so important to us that something like this is such a tragedy," wrote Robinson. "The safety and well being of your children is vitally important to you and to us. Even if your child is not familiar with the individual, rumors can still be upsetting, so I want to make certain that you are informed and can speak with your child if he/she expresses concern. Our counselors are there for them."

On Wednesday evening, Governor Dannel P. Malloy released a statement regarding last night’s shooting in Bridgeport.

“When the use of force by law enforcement officers results in the loss of life, justice is best served when the incident is reviewed by objective and independent entities. That is why in 2015, I signed a bill into law aimed at increasing accountability and transparency by expanding the reporting and investigation requirements in such instances," Malloy said in a statement. "It is appropriate that Office of the State’s Attorney and the Connecticut State Police have assumed their respective responsibilities in the review of the shooting that occurred last night in Bridgeport. The State of Connecticut is committed to ensuring an open and independent investigation to determine the facts of this case."

“With that said, a young man lost his life last night and I am deeply saddened by this reality. I am sensitive to the concerns of all those impacted by this incident and ask for patience from members of the community as the independent reviews are being conducted," Malloy concluded in his statement.

Perez further said that the body of the young man who was shot was unable to be covered until the state's attorney and Chief Medical Examiner were responding to the crime scene, calling it 'not a perfect system.'

“At this point what happens in our world is that it is our job is to secure crime scene," said the city's Chief of Police. The matter is being investigated by the state police. We are depending on the state's attorney and state police to conduct open and thorough investigation. "

However, both community leaders and the mayor voiced displeasure of the way the body was handled.

"It bothers me to have a deceased young person have to remain for six or seven hours," Ganim said. It is unacceptable from a community perspective."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut issued a statement regarding the shooting, the city's 11th homicide this year.

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