Hartford Cop Cleared In November 2024 Shooting Of Suspect: State

HARTFORD, CT — A state investigator has ruled that a Hartford police officer was justified in shooting a fleeing suspect back in November 2024.

The Office of the Inspector General released a 30-page report on Thursday, Oct. 23, about the incident, which took place at a Hartford intersection on Nov. 30, 2024.

In that incident, Alexander Garay, 48, was critically wounded inside his vehicle by an HPD officer when authorities said he failed to comply with the officer's orders and displayed a handgun.

Connecticut Inspector General Eliot D. Prescott wrote he wasn't going to take further action, and the officer, identified as HPD Officer Gabrielle Arruda, was justified in her use of potentially deadly force against Garay.

"In sum, I conclude that the use of deadly physical force by Officer Arruda was objectively reasonable in response to the imminent use of deadly physical force by Alexander Garay in this incident," wrote Prescott in his report.

According to prior incident reports, the shooting occurred at the intersection of Broad and West Preston streets in the city.

State officials said, at about 8:15 p.m. that night, police were called to a disturbance at 730 Maple Ave.

It was reported that one of the persons involved in the disturbance, later identified as Garay, had displayed a firearm, state officials reported.

Authorities said members of the HPD's Street Crime Unit then followed a vehicle leaving the scene of the disturbance, with Garay behind the wheel.

According to the state's inspector general, Garay "crashed his car at the intersection of Broad Street and West Preston Street."

After the accident, HPD officers Arruda and Elvis Martinez approached the car and ordered Garay "to show his hands," wrote authorities.

State officials said Garay "ignored these commands," and police, subsequently, deployed a Taser.

Officials said Arruda saw that Garay had a firearm in his possession, and she ordered him to drop the gun.

"When he failed to do so, she fired her weapon twice, striking Garay," wrote the office of the inspector general late last year.

Police administered first aid to Garay, and he was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Officers were able to recover a loaded 9 mm pistol that was in Garay's possession.

According to Prescott, Garay was eventually discharged from the hospital on Dec. 5, 2024. He had suffered wounds to his leg and chest.

In addition, reported Prescott, Garay tested positive for multiple narcotics, including phencyclidine (PCP), benzodiazepine, and cannabis.

Prescott said Arruda "sincerely believed" she was facing the "imminent use of deadly physical force against her," a key condition justifying the police use of such force.

"She saw the firearm inside the vehicle and that Garay was struggling with Officer Martinez in an attempt to free his arm, presumably so that he could fire on her," wrote Prescott.

"She also knew that he was acting erratically and aggressively inside the vehicle, which contributed to her belief that he would use his firearm against her."

Ultimately, Garay was charged on Dec. 1, 2024, with interfering with a police officer/resisting arrest, criminal possession of a pistol/revolver, possession of a controlled substance, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, and operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Garay is being held on $750,000 bond and will next appear in Hartford Superior Court on Dec. 1.

For the full report by the Connecticut Officer of the Inspector General, click on this link.

From Dec. 4, 2024: 'WATCH: Hartford Police Open Fire On Fleeing Suspect'

From Dec. 1, 2024: 'Man Shot By Police In Hartford: Reports'