East Hartford Cops Cleared In May 2024 Shooting Involving Fleeing Suspect: State

EAST HARTFORD, CT — The two East Hartford Police Department officers who opened fire on a fleeing suspect in May 2024 were cleared of any wrongdoing by state investigators Monday.

According to the Connecticut Office of the Inspector General, which issued a 35-page report Monday afternoon, EHPD officers Brian Altamirano and Daniel Guilfuchi acted appropriately in an incident in May 2024, when a suspect fled police in a vehicle, struck a police vehicle, and grazed multiple bystanders with a vehicle.

According to Connecticut Inspector General Eliot D. Prscotte, the suspect — identified as Deshawn Fitzpatrick, 19, of East Hartford, was not struck by gunfire.

But, he said, the Infiniti Q70 was struck 11 times on the rear driver side and passenger side, the rear window, the trunk assembly, and the roof.

Prescott said eight of the 11 shots hit the rear of the Infiniti or the left rear quarter panel.

Fitzpatrick was subsequently arrested and charged with several felonies, including attempted assault on a public safety officer and risk of injury to a minor, Prescott said in the report.

Those charges remain pending in Manchester Superior Court, and Fitzpatrick, who will appear in court on Tuesday, Nov. 4, is still being held by police after his arrest in January 2025.

Prescott said the officers' use of their guns was "legally justified or otherwise not criminal in nature."

As a result, he said he would take no further action on the case.

On May 19, 2024, at about 3:29 p.m., East Hartford police officers were dispatched to Governor’s Auto Body & Repair, 200 Governor St., East Hartford.

Officers were probing a report that a male had displayed a firearm at one of the tow operators during a dispute over whether items were missing from a vehicle towed the day before, wrote authorities.

The state said the first arriving EHPD officer, Altamirano, observed a white Infinity in the parking lot.

A male was in the driver’s seat, and a second male and female were standing next to the passenger side of the Infinity, reads a preliminary report.

A second East Hartford police cruiser, operated by Guilfuchi, arrived at the body shop and stopped near the Infinity, authorities wrote.

That's when Altamirano exited his cruiser and asked if anyone had any firearms.

To escape, the Infinity drove forward, crashing into Guilfuchi’s cruiser.

According to the report, the white Infinity then reversed, quickly moving backward, knocking the two people on the passenger side to the ground, with one of them holding children.

While Guilfuchi was in the process of exiting his cruiser, the Infinity drove forward again, colliding with the front of his cruiser, authorities wrote.

The state said Guilfuchi discharged his duty weapon approximately six times at the Infinity, and Altamirano also discharged his duty weapon at the Infinity.

The Infinity, operated by Fitzpatrick, fled westbound on Interstate 84.

Officials said it was ultimately located abandoned at 14 Tredeau St., Hartford, and it was determined the vehicle had been stolen.

Fitzpatrick was eventually charged on Jan. 14 of this year, according to online court records.

The EHPD reported that the two officers were treated for minor injuries during the incident.

For the full state report on the incident, click on this link.

From May 22, 2024: 'Video Shows East Hartford Police Shooting At Fleeing Suspect'