Shots Fired In Bowling Alley Parking Lot, 2 Charged: East Haven Police

EAST HAVEN, CT — Police said two people have been charged in connection with a shots fired incident just after midnight.

The incident occurred at 12:11 a.m. in the Circle Lanes parking lot on Main Street, police said.

Officers investigating an unrelated call in the area heard gunshots coming from the Circle Lanes parking lot and observed people running through the parking lot, police said. As officers approached the building, they saw several vehicles flee the parking lot at a high rate of speed, police said.

Officers responding to the area observed one of the fleeing vehicles on Main Street and attempted a motor vehicle stop on it, police said. The vehicle led police on a brief pursuit but eventually came to a stop in the area of Main Street and Columbus Avenue, police said.

The investigation revealed the operator of the fleeing vehicle, identified as Daniel Rodriguez, 44, of Hawthorne Street in Bridgeport, and another individual, identified as Damien Brown, 24, of New Haven Avenue in Milford, were involved in a physical altercation with several people in the parking lot before Rodriguez brandished a handgun and fired several shots into the air, police said.

Rodriguez and Brown were placed under arrest and were transported to the East Haven Police Department for processing, police said. The firearm used in the incident was recovered from Rodriguez’s vehicle, police said.

Rodriguez was charged with unlawful discharge, possession of a firearm while intoxicated, first-degree reckless endangerment, breach of peace, engaging police in pursuit, and reckless driving, police said. Rodriguez was held on a $175,000 bond.

Damien Brown was charged with second-degree breach of peace, police said. Brown was later released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 28.