Explosives, Decomposed Body Found In Home Of Barricaded Suspect: Stamford Police

STAMFORD, CT — Multiple explosives and a second body, which appeared to be concealed and decomposed, were found in the home of the barricaded suspect who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Tuesday during an hours-long standoff with police, the Stamford Police Department announced Wednesday.

Police held a news conference at SPD headquarters Wednesday afternoon and released new details on the incident which stemmed from an eviction and prompted a massive law enforcement response following the exchange of gunfire between an occupant of the home and first responders.

The occupant of the home who is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound was identified as Jed Parkington, 63, according to Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw.

On the morning of Dec. 2, state marshals called 911 to assist with an eviction process at a home in the 260 block of Oaklawn Avenue, and patrol officers arrived at approximately 9:17 a.m., Shaw said.

"It was later determined this would become a barricaded suspect situation," Shaw noted.

The SPD's hostage negotiation team arrived at 9:44 a.m. and attempted to communicate with Parkington, and the department's Special Response Team was called to the scene at 11:40 a.m., Shaw said.

"A search warrant and arrest warrant was applied and signed for both the residence and the suspect. As officers approached the residence, the suspect opened fire on the two SRT bearcats with multiple rounds being fired and striking windshields and parts of the vehicles," Shaw said.

Photos on display at Wednesday's news conference at SPD Headquarters showed heavy damage to a Stamford police bearcat, a vehicle equipped with armor and thick glass windows.

Mutual aid from federal, state and other municipal partners around the state was requested, and a standoff ensued, Shaw said.

"During this standoff, gunfire was exchanged numerous times between the suspect and the Stamford SRT team. The hostage negotiation team had communicated throughout the day in an attempt to get the suspect to exit the property safely," Shaw said.

At some point, officers heard a single gunshot come from inside the home, and a drone was sent in to confirm Parkington's condition, Shaw said.

Officers then discovered a pipe bomb, grenades and molotov cocktails throughout the home, and the SPD's bomb squad was called in, Shaw added.

While checking the home for additional explosives, officers discovered a second body on the second floor of the home that appeared to be concealed and "in a decomposed state," Shaw said.

Shaw said it was too early in the investigation to identify the body or know how long it had been in the house. Shaw could also not comment on the weapon Parkington was believed to be using, or how many people currently lived at the house.

Officers were in the process Wednesday afternoon of turning the scene over to the CT State Police Major Crimes Unit and the Inspector General's Officer, which will handle the investigation. Stamford police will lead an investigation into the second body that was discovered.

Oaklawn Avenue reopened late Wednesday, police announced

Shaw said he believed officers responded to the Oaklawn Avenue home several years ago on a domestic call, but no arrests were made.

Detectives plan to speak with Parkington's wife, who was "involved in this yesterday," as well as other family members, Shaw noted.

"Our department has been in contact with the family to offer support and outside services," Shaw said.

Court records show the house on Oaklawn Avenue was in foreclosure.

Several occupants of the home were issued a notice to surrender possession in April, according to court records. Eviction was slated for Tuesday.

A woman associated with the address of the home submitted a letter to a court judge on Monday, saying she, her husband and her dog did not have a place to move to.

The woman said her husband lost his job in 2014, and was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, and she asked the judge to allow them to stay in the home through the holidays into March 2026.

A judge denied the woman's request in an order filed Monday, saying he was "not unsympathetic to the defendant," but the plaintiff/trustee involved in the foreclosure was "entitled to possession of the premises," according to the court order.

Mayor Caroline Simmons spoke during Wednesday's news conference and called the incident "an unsettling and scary situation for our community," as well as a "complex and sad situation with the loss of two lives."

Simmons praised the law enforcement agencies that responded, including the Bridgeport, Danbury, Stratford, New Haven, Westport and New Canaan Police Departments, as well as the CT State Police, Westchester County Police and Southwest Regional Department.

"Your collective professionalism and coordination under uncertain and dangerous circumstances ensured this situation was deescalated and contained without further harm to first responders or the public," Simmons said.

Shaw also thanked the officers and multiple law enforcement agencies involved, notably the Stamford Police SRT team and hostage negotiation team.

"What you had inside that vehicle was five dedicated SRT officers who went to assist the patrol division in an attempt to get this person out," Shaw said, looking at photos of the damaged police bearcat.

"The hostage negotiation team was doing their best to communicate with this individual, and they thought they made progress, but it ended up not working out obviously."