Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Chenelle Edwards
Age :15
Gender :Female
Race : Black
Date : 06/26/2023
Location : Allen Hill Rd
City : Brooklyn
County : Windham
State : Connecticut
Agency : Connecticut State Patrol
Officer(s) : Unknown
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
A car carrying five passengers “failed to stop” at the intersection of Allen Hill Road and Route 205, was chased and after running the light, the car struck a tree and rolled off the road and down a nearby embankment. Chenelle Edwards died in the crash.
SOURCE LINKS :
Elijah Joseph Vallier
Age :24
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 04/19/2023
Location : Interstate 84
City : Southington
County : Hartford
State : Connecticut
Agency : Norwalk PD
Officer(s) : Shannon Sherry
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Killed by police vehicle for unknown reasons
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Elijah Joseph Vallier was driving a pickup truck when an off-duty officer lost control over his vehicle, drove across 3 lanes and hit and killed Vallier. It is unknown what happened to cause this.
SOURCE LINKS :
Tim Yergeau
Age :
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 04/11/2023
Location : Unknown
City : New Haven
County : New Haven
State : Connecticut
Agency : New Haven PD
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Suicide under police duress during child porn arrest
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
New Haven PD’s Special Victims Unit investigating the child pornography case broke down the door of Yergeau’s neighbor and handcuffed the woman before realizing they raided had the wrong apartment. On second attempt, they broke down another door, this time the home of Tim Yergeau, their original target for arrest for child porn. Tim Yergeau committed suicide under police duress when police entered.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/tim-yergeau-long-wharf-new-haven-police-raid-17892772.php
Bianca Colon-Hernandez
Age :26
Gender :Female
Race : Latino/a/e
Date : 04/03/2023
Location : Hartford Turnpike+Bolton Rd
City : Vernon
County : Tolland
State : Connecticut
Agency : Manchester PD
Officer(s) : Andre Lisee
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Killed by collision with cruiser on call
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Bianca Colon-Hernandez was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her fiancé who also had a baby in the car. The officer was responding to a call with lights and sirens on when the police vehicle collided with the vehicle, killing her and injuring her child.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/serious-crash-closes-route-30-in-vernon-2/3006295/
https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/new-video-of-crash-that-killed-springfield-teacher/
Benjamin Payton
Age :17
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 03/28/2023
Location : Sage Drive
City : Waterbury
County : New Haven
State : Connecticut
Agency : Waterbury PD
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Drowned
Event : Drowned during police chase
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Benjamin Payton was a 17-year-old high school student at Crosby High School whom Waterbury police saw him in a stolen car around noon parked on Sage Drive. Police apprehended the driver, whom they identified as a 14-year-old boy. Another occupant, a 16-year-old boy, was also taken into custody. Benny Payton ran into Lakewood Lake and was found drowned later.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.wfsb.com/2023/03/29/teen-drowns-while-trying-run-waterbury-police/
Nicholas Brutcher 1 of 3
Age :35
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 10/12/2022
Location : 310 Redstone Hill Rd
City : Bristol
County : Hardford
State : Connecticut
Agency : Bristol PD
Officer(s) : Alec Lurato, Alex Hamzy, Dustin Demonte
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during investigation
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Nicholas Brutcher allegedly called 911 to bring police to his home. He opened fire on them, killing 2 officers and injuring a third. The third officer shot and killed him.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.4029tv.com/article/police-officers-shot-bristol-connecticut/41609572
https://www.yahoo.com/news/bristol-officer-justified-fatally-shooting-213300158.html
Ryan Lee Marzi
Age :38
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 08/24/2022
Location : Residence in Canterbury
City : Canterbury
County : Windham
State : Connecticut
Agency : Connecticut State Police
Officer(s) : Jessie Rainville, Desmond Stimson
Cause of Death : Taser
Event : Killed by police during disturbance call
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
A Connecticut State trooper arrived at Ryan Marzi’s home after a call from someone in the home that Marzi had prevented them from leaving. A second officer arrived and found the first responding officer allegedly injured on the ground, at which point the second officer tased Marzi an unknown number of times. Marzi was hospitalized and then released but died 4 days later in his sleep. He had been unarmed when assaulted by police.
SOURCE LINKS :
Keith Neal
Age :51
Gender :Male
Race : White
Date : 04/14/2022
Location : Fitch Hill Road
City : Guilford
County : New Haven
State : Connecticut
Agency : Guilford Police Department
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during domestic disturbance response
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 04/14/2022, Guilford Police Department officers responded to Fitch Hill Road after a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance involving a firearm. Officers arrived at the residence and located Keith Neal outside the home. According to police, Neal was armed during the encounter. Officers opened fire and shot him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Connecticut State Police assumed control of the investigation into the use of force.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/state-police-investigate-officer-involved-shooting-in-guilford/2759904/
https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/new-haven/state-police-investigate-fatal-officer-involved-shooting-in-guilford/
Brenton Chambers
Age :42
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 02/04/2022
Location :
City : Norwich
County : New London
State : Connecticut
Agency : Norwich PD
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Overdose
Event : Died in police custody after arrest
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
The state Office of Inspector General is investigating after a man who was in Norwich police custody died in a holding cell on Feb. 4, 2022.
SOURCE LINKS :
Christopher W. Hagans
Age :36
Gender :Male
Race : Black
Date : 02/05/2021
Location : Main Street and Cutspring Road
City : Stratford
County : Fairfield
State : Connecticut
Agency : Stratford Police Department
Officer(s) : Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during arrest attempt
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 02/05/2021, Stratford police officers assisted Naugatuck police in attempting to serve an arrest warrant on Christopher Hagans related to a home invasion and strangulation case. Police believed Hagans was armed. As officers arrived in the area, Hagans drove away and was followed by police in marked and unmarked vehicles. The encounter culminated at a traffic light near Main Street and Cutspring Road, where police attempted to stop his vehicle by positioning a cruiser in front of him. Officers ordered Hagans to show his hands. Police reported that his vehicle moved forward and struck the cruiser. Officers opened fire on the vehicle, which became immobilized in snow. Hagans exited the vehicle, and police shot and killed him at the scene. The Connecticut Inspector General later ruled the shooting justified.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/prosecutor-releases-new-details-on-fatal-shooting-by-stratford-police/2418844/
https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Stratford-police-shooting-justified-Hagans-17692277.php
Benicio Vasquez
Age :34
Gender :Male
Race : Latino/a/e
Date : 01/06/2021
Location : Unknown
City : Hartford
County : Hartford
State : Connecticut
Agency : U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Britain Police Department
Officer(s) : Christopher Kiely, Not Disclosed (FBI agent)
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during investigation
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
The FBI's Safe Streets Task Force was conducting an investigation in Hartford, Connecticut. During the investigation, a suspect was identified and arrested. A secondary individual, Benicio Vasquez, became involved and exchanged gunfire with officers. New Britain Police Officer Christopher Kiely and an FBI agent shot and killed Vasquez.