Case Continued For Man Charged In Southington Shooting Spree

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A 74-year-old Southington man accused of going on a shooting spree through several towns didn't face a judge as expected Thursday. Instead, Floyd Douglas Gollnick's appearance inside a New Britain courtroom was postponed and his case continued to a later date, WFSB-TV reported.

The reason for the continuance wasn't immediately available.

Gollnick is accused of shooting up a church, a business and several homes in Southington as well as the state Capitol, according to the Southington Police Department. He's also accused of several shootings in Cromwell, Bristol and Hartford.

Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in any of the incidents— only damage to various structures.

At least seven locations just in the Southington spree were targeted:

• 2344 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike
• 376 North Star Drive
• 70 Meriden Ave.
• 750 Waterbury Turnpike
• 156 School St.
• 216 Flanders Road
• 828 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike

Gollnick was identified as a suspect in the spree after bullet holes from the state Capitol shooting were discovered May 30, police said.

He was eventually taken into custody after police said they responded to an alarm at Hartford HealthCare. That's when officers said they discovered a black Chevrolet Silverado parked behind the office and saw a man wearing a yellow T-shirt and blue jeans, matching the description of a suspect in an earlier shooting incident in Bristol.

Officers then saw the man, later identified as Gollnick, standing outside the truck with the passenger side door open, holding a rifle.

Police said he fled the scene in his truck but officers ultimately were able to take him into custody.

Gollnick faces a slew of federal and misdemeanor charges, including engaging police in a pursuit, ill discharge of a firearm, reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal use of a weapon, criminal mischief and resisting officers.

From the Plantsville section of Southington, Gollnick had no known criminal history prior to the incidents. He has only had two recent police contacts — welfare checks in December — police said.

SEE ALSO:

• 74-Year-Old Shooting Spree Suspect Charged In Southington