Ridgefield Shooting: Hulda Lane Homeowner Arrested After Guns, Steroids And Cash Found

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Following almost two months of investigation, both the homeowner and two teenagers involved in a shooting incident on Hulda Lane have been taken into custody, Ridgefield police announced Tuesday morning. Police say Mauro Tropeano, 33, turned himself in to police on a warrant Monday night after unlawfully shooting a teenager during the robbery attempt on June 5. The 15-year-old female shooting victim and another 16-year-old girl from Waterbury were also previously arrested on warrants.

Police say they found more than seven pounds of marijuana, a large amount of steroids and steroid-related items, multiple firearms and more than $28,000 in cash when they searched Tropeano's home the day after the shooting. Tropeano is the owner of Stanziato's Wood Fire Pizza in Danbury.

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During the early hours of June 5, a group of teenagers tied to other car thefts in the area came to Hulda Lane to steal cars. One of the teenagers told police the group hopped into the unlocked Range Rover and tried to steal it before backing into a bush and a lamp post.

In the process of the attempted larceny, Tropeano allegedly shot one of the teenagers in the back. Police say the getaway car, a 2015 Kia Sorrento, also had damage from bullet holes. Neighbors told police they heard between three and five gun shots.

Ridgefield police were then contacted by Waterbury police, who said a 15-year-old girl suffered a gunshot wound to her back and was being treated at Waterbury Hospital. She suffered non-life threatening injuries, but doctors could not remove the bullet from the girl's back due to its close proximity to her spine, the affidavit said.

The 15-year-old was arrested on a warrant for conspiracy to commit larceny in the first-degree and larceny in the sixth degree. The 16-year-old teenager was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to commit larceny, and both were released on a promise to appear.

When searching Tropeano's home, investigators say they found 219 unmarked yellow pills and five boxes of hypodermic needles. Several kinds of anabolic steroids were found at the home, including Deca-Durabolin. Tropeano had a valid pistol permit, and the three handguns found at the home were registered.

Those handguns included a Colt .380-caliber handgun, a Glock-19 and a Ruger .40-caliber handgun. Court records did not indicate which of the weapons was used during the shooting.

Tropeano was charged with assault in the second degree with a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, interfering with an officer, illegal sale, distribution, manufacture/non-drug dependent person. He was released on a $100,000 bond and is due in Danbury Superior Court on Sept. 5.

Check back with Patch for updates on this developing story.

Image via the Ridgefield Police Department