Fatal Police Shooting In New Haven Ruled Justified: State

NEW HAVEN, CT — Two police officers were justified in using deadly force against Aaron Freeman last January, the state Office of Inspector General has concluded.

Inspector General Eliot D. Prescott issued his findings in a report released Friday.

Freeman died from gunshot wounds on Jan. 29, 2025.

Waterbury Det. Martin Scanlon and West Haven Sgt. Joseph Riehl shot at Freeman after he began shooting at police, according to the report.

“I conclude that the use of deadly physical force by Detective Scanlon and Sergeant Riehl was objectively reasonable in response to the use of deadly physical force used by Aaron Freeman in this incident,” Prescott wrote in the report. “I find that their actions were legally justified.”

Scanlon and Riehl were among several police officers assigned to a Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force who went to Freeman’s apartment at 719 Grand Ave. in New Haven. Police were there to execute a search and seizure warrant for the premises and an arrest warrant for Freeman on narcotics charges.

According to the report, police entered the apartment and saw Freeman standing inside a bedroom near a partially opened door.

“After being ordered to show his hands, Aaron Freeman opened fire on the officers,” the report states.

One bullet hit West Haven Police Officer Robert Rappa in the calf, and he sought cover in a nearby bathroom.

Scanlon took cover in a stairwell leading to the apartment’s second floor, and Scanlon and Freeman exchanged gunfire, according to the report.

After a few minutes, Rappa attempted to escape from the bathroom so he could get treatment for his gunshot wound. To do so, he needed to pass through Freeman’s line of fire from the bedroom. As Rappa fled, Freeman fired at least one additional round at him, but missed, according to the report.

After Rappa escaped the bathroom, Scanlon fired four additional rounds at Freeman.

Officers then awaited the arrival of the West Haven Police Department Special Response Team, which includes Riehl.

As Riehl proceeded into the apartment’s living room toward Freeman’s bedroom, Freeman fired through the bedroom wall, hitting Riehl in the upper leg, the report shows.

Riehl returned fire and immediately retreated, and he was then helped out of the apartment by other officers.

Police attempted to communicate with Freeman to negotiate an end to the stand-off, but he didn’t respond. Officers deployed tear gas into the bedroom and used a drone with a camera to see inside the bedroom. Drone footage showed Freeman appeared to be dead at that point, the report shows.

According to Prescott, the two officers “honestly and sincerely believed that Freeman had attempted to kill or inflict serious physical harm on them and/or other officers at the scene.”

Prescott wrote that Freeman fired repeatedly at police, “suddenly and without provocation.”

“The necessity of the use of deadly physical force by Scanlon and Riehl arose from the violent and life-threatening conduct of Freeman,” Prescott wrote, in the report. “There can be no serious debate that both officers’ use of deadly physical force was legally justified.”

Both Rappa and Riehl recovered from their injuries.

Read the full report HERE.

Read more:
OIG Releases Prelim Report On DEA, West Haven Cops Use Of Deadly Force
Crack Probe Preceded Fatal Shoot-Out