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Police officers fatally shoot person who pulled out gun during investigation in West Haven

NBC Connecticut

An investigation is underway after two police officers fired shots at a suspect during an investigation on the West Haven line with New Haven. Police said the suspect later died.

It happened Thursday evening at the Splash Car Wash on Route 1 near Ella Grasso Boulevard, according to police.

State police said the New Haven Violent Crime Task Force was at the scene conducting an investigation when a person displayed a firearm.

A state police sergeant and a New Haven police officer both discharged their weapons, causing injuries to the suspect, according to authorities. The man was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Police said they can't release the suspect's identity, but shared that he is a 36-year-old man from New Haven.

"As you can imagine, the family was very, very upset at the hospital," Mayor Justin Elicker said.

Jacobson shared that he knew the suspect personally, and the police department was familiar with him.

"Our officers do the best job they can do to not do this," Police Chief Karl Jacobson said during a news conference.

The Office of the Inspector General has been notified of the incident and has assumed the investigation. The scene has since been secured and there is no threat to the public.

No officers were hurt, but both officers who fired their weapons were taken to the hospital to be checked out.

Elicker said the Office of the Inspector General will release body camera video of the incident, along with findings of a preliminary investigation within four days.

Jacobson said he's grateful that no officers were hurt during the incident.

The area is closed to traffic as police conduct their investigation. People are being asked to avoid the area and take alternate routes.

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