Gun Fired During Robbery Attempt At Naugatuck Apartment: Police

NAUGATUCK, CT — An 18-year-old was arrested after a gun was fired as a result of a struggle during an attempted robbery Saturday night in Naugatuck, according to police.

In a news release, police said officers were called to a multifamily home on Hill Street around 8 p.m. after receiving a report of a firearm possibly having been discharged inside a third-floor apartment.

According to police, witnesses reported hearing a possible gunshot from the third-floor apartment along with sounds of a struggle and cries for help.

After numerous attempts to contact the third-floor tenants, officers forced entry into the unit and found signs of a struggle inside, including displaced furniture and minor property damage, police said.

Officers also found manufactured gun parts and a potential bullet hole in the building, according to police.

No one was found inside the apartment at the time, however officers later located the third-floor tenant, who was unharmed, police said.

After further investigation, officers confirmed an altercation had occurred over cash inside the apartment, police said.

According to police, Larry Mason, 18, of Naugatuck, drew a firearm with the intent to rob the third-floor tenant and a struggle ensued, resulting in the gun being fired inside the apartment.

No injuries were reported. A 3D-printed lower handgun frame and firearm magazine were found by investigators, according to police.

Mason was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, illegal discharge of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and first-degree criminal attempt at robbery.

He was held on a $500,000 bond and appeared in court Monday, according to police.

"The Naugatuck Police Department reminds our community of the importance of preventing youth access to firearms and commends the citizens who reported this altercation promptly to ensure that no persons were harmed," police said in a news release.

The department also applauded the responding officers and detectives involved in the investigation for their efficient collaboration and "ensuring the safety of our community."