Inspector General ID’s man killed in officer-involved shooting in Ansonia, releases bodycam footage

A preliminary report released Friday by the Inspector General reveals more details about a deadly shooting involving Bridgeport police officers.

The  Connecticut Office of Inspector General has identified a man killed during an officer-involved shooting earlier this week following a police pursuit that began in Bridgeport and ended when the suspect crashed into a residence in Ansonia.

Inspector General  Robert J. Devlin on Friday released a preliminary report on the shooting, which he said involved three Bridgeport police officers who fired at 41-year-old Jonathan Mark Lewis Bell on Sunday evening, killing him.

According to Devlin’s report — which was accompanied by portions of both body camera and dashboard camera footage from the officers involved — the Bridgeport Police Department Tactical Narcotics Team “received information” around 5:15 p.m. indicating an individual later identified as Bell had weapons and narcotics and was driving around the Bridgeport area. Police also received information indicating that Bell was using different vehicles, including a Mercedes-Benz SUV, according to the report.

Investigators conducting surveillance in the area of Oak Street spotted Bell in an SUV with a female in the passenger seat and tried to pull him over, Devlin wrote.

According to Devlin’s report, Bell engaged police in pursuit through Bridgeport and eventually got onto Route 8 North. The pursuit ended when he got off Route 8 in Ansonia and struck the porch of a residence on Division Street in Ansonia.

Devlin identified the Bridgeport officers who opened fire on Bell as Sgt. Chris Robinson and Officers Mathew Hoffman and Wilberto Rivera-Colon.

Bodycam footage shows multiple officers using their vehicles to box Bell in after he struck the porch and tried to back the vehicle up. Officers with their guns drawn can be heard yelling “Get your hands up” and for him to show his “(expletive) hands,” the footage shows.

At one point during the encounter, an officer can be heard saying “he’s got a gun,” though Devlin’s preliminary report makes no mention of a firearm being recovered at the scene.

At one point during the chaotic encounter, an officer appears to use a window punch on the driver’s side window of the vehicle Bell was operating, the footage shows. At another point, an officer opens the passenger side door and pulls a screaming female out, telling her to “get out of the (expletive) car” and to “get on the (expletive) ground,” bodycam footage shows.

Shortly thereafter, several shots can be heard before officers radio in that there have been “shots fired, shots fired,” footage shows. After about five seconds from when the first series of gunshots ended, a lone officer appears to fire one more shot.

After opening fire on Bell, officers on the bodycam footage can be heard continuing to yell for him to get his “hands up.” The portion released from one officer’s bodycam footage ends with a policeman calling for medics.

According to Devlin’s preliminary report, officers reported that Bell was reaching for an object and refusing to show his hands, at which point the three officers fired their guns.

Police removed Bell from the vehicle and rendered medical aid before he was brought in an ambulance to Griffin Hospital in Derby, where he was pronounced dead at 6:44 p.m., Devlin wrote.

According to the preliminary report, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined Bell died of gunshot wounds to his head and torso. The death was ruled a homicide.

The medical examiner is still awaiting the results of a toxicology report, according to Devlin.

In accordance with the state’s police accountability law, Devlin’s office is investigating the shooting to determine if the officers’ use of deadly force was justified.

The investigation is being assisted by the Connecticut State Police‘s Central District Major Crime Squad, Milford Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office and the Ansonia and Bridgeport Police Departments.

Earlier this week, Bridgeport police Capt. Kevin Gilleran said in a statement that, per department protocol, the officers involved in the shooting will be assigned to work modified duty out of the chief’s office while Devlin’s investigation is ongoing.

“I have the utmost confidence that the Office of the Inspector General will ensure a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation,” Chief Roderick Porter said in a statement issued Friday. “Regardless of the circumstances, loss of life is tragic. Our sincerest condolences go out to the family of the deceased.”

“I express my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased at this time,” Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim said in a joint statement with Porter. “I can assure our residents that the Bridgeport Police Department does its best to mitigate criminal activity in the safest and most efficient way possible.”

“We support our Bridgeport police officers as they continue to partner with the community by providing quality police services and creating a safe environment through fair and impartial enforcement of the law,” Ganim added. “Although this event has had a tragic outcome, my belief is that the Office of the Inspector General will conduct an investigation that will result in full transparency of this incident.”