Hartford police and Mayor Luke Bronin say a city police officer was shot at through the driver's side window of her cruiser early Tuesday morning.
The officer, whose name has not been released, suffered facial abrasions from the windshield's shattered glass. She was hospitalized, then released, with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police say the alleged shooter, Jose Cajigas, 31, of Hartford, is expected to be charged with murder in another case-- the killing of Catherine Hays, 53, who was found dead in a Spring St. apartment on Monday.
Mayor Luke Bronin says Cajigas should not have been free to commit any crime, citing his long criminal record, the fact that he's on probation and was recently arrested for illegal gun possession.
"He was arrested ten days ago for possessing a firearm illegally," says Bronin. "and yesterday (allegedly) committed a homicide and nearly killed a police officer. We need to have a serious conversation about how that's possible."
In the shooting involving the police officer, Cajigas is held on $2M bail, charged with attempted murder, criminal gun possession and unlawful discharge of a firearm.
The officer was on patrol in a marked cruiser in the parking lot at 1921 Main St., the Union Baptist Church, according to police. Cajigas approached the cruiser, and, observing he seemed disoriented, the officer called an ambulance. Police say Cajigas then opened fire into the vehicle without provocation.
"She's offering assistance by calling an ambulance," says Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody, "and keeping this individual engaged and trying to help this person, and then out of nowhere, this individual launches an attack."
Thody credits the officer, with two years on the force, for the presence of mind to maneuver the cruiser into a safer position, while calling for backup.
"She said that her 'mom' instincts kicked in, which I'll take all day long," says Thody, "and she positioned her car to avoid further attack, to save herself and by saving herself, I think she likely saved other officers and other members in the community."
Her fellow officers responded quickly and made the arrest.
