Police Use Of Deadly Force West Haven, CT 09/19/2024

Officer Michael Valente filed a written sworn report on October 11, 2024. It states in relevant part: “On Wednesday, 07/31/2024, [Task Force Officer] Borges informed plain clothes Police units that he received information from a confidential informant that Jebrell Conley (DOB: 6/22/1988) was in possession of a firearm in a black Ford Mustang with possibly NJ marker plates Z19-UEX. Conley is a convicted felon and was not legally allowed to own firearms. A few days later, the vehicle was located[,] and it appeared that Conley was operating it[;] however, due to concerns for public and Officer safety and where the vehicle was located, a stop was never made. An in-house profile for Conley showed that there was an alert added in 2015 that he was a designated Grape Street Crip gang member. “During the week ending of 09/21/2024, [Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm (ATF)] personnel shared information with New Haven plain clothes Police units that Conley was operating a black Hyundai Tucson SUV, bearing NJ marker plates Y40-SND, and had an active federal arrest warrant from an ATF investigation stemming from a shooting during a robbery incident in Hamden, CT. ATF also shared information that Conley "supposedly always" carried a gun when he was outside of his house. “On Thursday, 09/19/2024, members of the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU), Shooting Task Force (STF), and CT State Police Violent Crime Task Force (VCTF) were conducting crime suppression throughout the city of New Haven. Our duties and responsibilities were to enforce illegal drug/narcotics violations, illegal firearm activity, serve active arrest warrants, and enforce quality of life issues. Members of these units operate in unmarked Police vehicles, some of which are equipped with Police lights and sirens. Said members are also clad in plain clothes and wear outer ballistic Police vests with the words "POLICE" clearly visible on the front and rear of the vest, clearly identifying each member as a Law Enforcement Officer.

“STF TFO Loesche and I were paired up together in an unmarked Ford Explorer Police 'takedown' SUV, equipped with visible lights in the front windshield and on the front grille area, sirens, dual spotlights, and no windshield or front window tints. At approximately 1620 hours, Plain clothes units located the black Hyundai Tucson SUV, bearing NJ marker plates Y40-SND, parked and unoccupied around Columbus Ave. and Cedar St/Liberty Ave. Surveillance was conducted on the vehicle but no one returned to it. A short time later, units left the area and Officer Loesche and I were driving northbound on Howard Ave. toward Columbus Ave. The black Hyundai Tucson, bearing NJ marker plates Y40-SND, then passed us, heading northbound on Howard Ave. toward Columbus Ave. It appeared to be occupied by a black male driver. After it turned left (westbound) onto Columbus Ave., we let a few cars turn behind the Hyundai and then used those cars for cover as we followed the Hyundai. Unmarked Police vehicles not equipped with lights and sirens also began to follow the Hyundai, and at one point, an unmarked Police vehicle was directly in front of the Hyundai occupied by CSP VCTF Officers Flanagan and Guandalini. Officers Flanagan and Guandalini were able to positively identify the driver of the Hyundai as Conley. We continued to follow the Hyundai, however, the cars driving in front of us began to turn and we ended up directly behind the Hyundai near Columbus Ave. and Davenport Ave. As we were directly behind the Hyundai, Officers Flanagan and Guandalini were still directly in front of the Hyundai and stated that Conley appeared very nervous as he was constantly looking in the rear view and side mirrors at our Police vehicle and began to reach under the seat toward something. I know through my training and experience that it is common for criminals who are alone in a vehicle and illegally in possession of firearms to try to have those firearms close enough to be able to retrieve them quickly but hidden so that they are concealed from Police. Those areas in vehicles where firearms are commonly hidden include the center console, the void between the center console and the driver's seat, and underneath the driver's seat. Based on the information received from the ATF, and Officers Flanagan and Guandalini's observations, I believed that Conley was illegally in possession of a firearm and was storing it under the driver's seat. “The Hyundai continued on Columbus Ave. over Ella T Grasso Blvd. and then turned into the Splash Car Wash at 2 Boston Post Rd., West Haven. As we passed the vehicle and parking lot unmarked Police vehicles began to set up surveillance in the area while Police 'takedown' vehicles staged nearby out of view. The Hyundai was seen entering the car wash tunnel to get washed. A short time later, the Hyundai exited the car wash tunnel, turned around, entered the parking lot and parked at the vehicle vacuum stations. Conley exited the driver's seat of the Hyundai and began to clean his vehicle. “When Police units were in place and Conley was out of his vehicle, the decision was made to attempt to take him into custody to avoid a possible vehicle pursuit and reduce danger to citizens and Officers in the area. An unmarked Police Ford Crown Victoria, equipped with lights and sirens, entered the parking lot first. Due to the design of the parking lot, the Police Crown Victoria had to park in a lane farthest away from the Hyundai. NHPD CIU Detectives Huelsman and Vakos exited the Police Crown Victoria and ran toward Conley to take him into custody, however, he resisted and got back into the driver's seat of the Hyundai. Officer Loesche and I were able to drive over the curb and park near the Hyundai to prevent it from escaping. The Hyundai reversed in an attempt to flee but struck our Police vehicle. Police personnel converged on the vehicle and attempted to remove Conley from the driver's seat but were unsuccessful. Someone yelled, ‘He's reaching! He's reaching!’ which led me to believe that Conley was reaching underneath his seat where I believed he was storing a firearm. “I exited my Police vehicle and deployed a stop stick near the passenger's side tires of the Hyundai in case it was able to maneuver through the vacuum area to flee. I then approached the passenger's side front window and saw Conley reaching underneath his driver's seat. I heard someone yell ‘gun.’ I utilized a window breaker to break the passenger's side, front window hoping that I could deploy my Taser to prevent Conley from reaching a firearm. As soon as I broke the Hyundai's passenger's side front window, I heard a gunshot coming from the Hyundai and saw Police personnel backing out of the area of the driver's seat. Fearing that Conley was able to retrieve his firearm and had just shot at Police, and since I now had a clear backdrop, I unholstered my department issued handgun and began to shoot at Conley. When I began to shoot, I lost my sense of hearing. I don't remember exactly how many times I shot, but I estimate it was between 6-10 rounds. I could not hear if any other Police personnel fired their weapons, or whether Conley continued to fire his weapon. “When it appeared that Conley's arms were down by his body and his body was slumped in the vehicle, I believed that the threat had stopped. I did not fire my weapon after this point. I reholstered my firearm and went to the driver's side of the vehicle, where my hearing seemed to return. I heard Police personnel yell to remove Conley from the vehicle and to place him in handcuffs. Someone said that a handgun was recovered in Conley's vehicle that had ‘stovepiped,’ and it was secured in a Police vehicle. I know a ‘stovepipe’ is when a firearm[‘]s casing fails to eject properly and gets caught in the slide, making the firearm unable to cycle and fire again. “I assumed someone called for medical attention but since I did not hear it, I notified Dispatch of the situation and requested immediate medical attention by New Haven FD and AMR ambulance. Conley's shirt was ripped off and Police personnel began to evaluate his injuries. It appeared that he was struck by gunfire multiple times and was unresponsive and not breathing. Police personnel then began chest compressions while Officer Guandalini intermittently used a bag-valve-mask to administer oxygen. At one point, I swapped out with someone and delivered multiple sets of chest compressions to Conley. A short time later medical professionals arrived on scene to provide additional medical attention. . . .”

Sergeant Francisco Sanchez filed a written sworn report on October 11, 2024. It states in relevant part: “I, Sergeant F. Sanchez, am currently assigned to the New Haven Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit. Officers assigned to this unit operate in plainclothes and wear outer ballistic vests marked ‘Police.’ On September 19, 2024, Shooting Task Force Sergeant Macuirzynski informed plainclothes officers and detectives working a Crime Suppression detail that Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Resident in Charge, S. Riordan, informed him that Jebrell Conley . . . had an active Federal Arrest Warrant that was entered into NCIC. The warrant charged Conley with shooting a person during an armed robbery on July 4, 2023. We were also informed that Conley was operating a black Hyundai SUV bearing NJ registration Y40SND and that he may be in possession of a firearm. Officers were able to view a photo of Conley taken during an arrest on January 30, 2023. “The Crime Suppression Detail consisted of officers and detectives assigned to the New Haven Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit, the New Haven Police Department’s Shooting Task Force, and the Connecticut State Police Violent Crime Task Force. At approximately 1645 hours on September 19, 2024, TFO Valente informed officers working the Crime Suppression detail that he saw the vehicle identified by the ATF as being operated by Conley, traveling on Columbus Avenue. TFO Flanagan was able to see the operator and confirmed that it was Conley. “Officers followed Conley to the Splash Carwash located at 2 Orange Avenue, West Haven, CT. I provided dispatch with our location upon our arrival. Conley went through the carwash and proceeded to a vacuum station. “Detective Glynn informed officers that Conley was standing outside of the vehicle vacuuming the interior of the driver compartment. At this time, I made the decision to approach Conley and arrest him for his outstanding federal arrest warrant. I parked my unmarked police vehicle a short distance away and approached Conley’s vehicle on foot. Upon my arrival at Conley’s vehicle, Detective Huelsman was giving commands while standing in front of an open driver’s door. Conley was in the driver’s seat. “I saw that Conley had his left arm across his body, towards the center console. It appeared to me that Conley was reaching for something. In fear that Conley was reaching for a firearm, I drew my department issued firearm and moved Detective Huelsman towards the rear of the vehicle. “Conley grabbed the steering wheel and put the vehicle in gear. He quickly reversed the vehicle with his door still open. My firearm fell to the ground. Conley’s vehicle came to an abrupt stop after he struck a police vehicle that was parked behind him. I retrieved my firearm from the ground and placed it into my holster. “I moved towards Conley to physically remove him from the vehicle. As I entered the driver`s compartment, I saw that Conley’s left arm was once again across his body, toward the center console. Conley said something to the effect of ‘Fuck this’, quickly raised his right arm, and pointed a small green bag at me. I believed that he was holding a firearm inside of the bag and that he was going to shoot me. Believing that my life was in danger, I immediately retreated towards the rear of Conley’s vehicle. I heard a gunshot and believed that Conley discharged a firearm with the intention of killing me. I immediately drew my firearm and discharged it at him. I saw a firearm with an extended magazine and Conley fall out of the driver’s compartment onto the ground. I grabbed Conley’s firearm from the ground and instructed other officers on scene to secure Conley in handcuffs. I secured Conley’s firearm in the trunk of Detective Huelsman’s unmarked police vehicle. I observed Conley`s firearm to have a partially ejected fired cartridge casing stuck in the ejection port. . . .”

Sergeant Colin Richter filed a written sworn report on October 17, 2024. It states in relevant part: “I, Sergeant Colin Richter #119, was hired by the Connecticut State Police on May 7, 2010. . . . “On September 19, 2024, I was working evening shift, also known as the crime suppression shift, in conjunction with the New Haven Police Department. I am assigned as a Connecticut State Trooper to this unit and have been assigned since September, 2022. Working in that unit of that day were approximately 10 other officers from the following departments: New Haven Police Department, North Haven Police Department and the Orange Police Department. I was the only member of the Connecticut State Police working at that time. I was wearing my outer vest carrier, which clearly identifies me as a "STATE TROOPER." . . . My gold-colored Connecticut State Police badge was clear and visible, located on my belt just forward of my assigned duty weapon (Glock G45, 9mm), all located on the right side of my body. “On September 19, 2024, I reported to my duty location at the New Haven Police Department at 0900 hours. I was scheduled to work my normal day shift, followed by an evening shift overtime assignment in the same unit. A[t] approximately 1600 hours, we met as a unit to discuss the evening shift. The New Haven Police Department informed us that Jebrell Conley had an active Federal arrest warrant that had been issued through the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) earlier that day. I understand the charges to be robbery and firearms related charges. I had no prior firsthand experiences with him. Our unit was provided with Mr. Conley's vehicle registration (black Hyundai Tucson, New Jersey registration Y40-SND) and it was entered into the New Haven Police Department's license plate reader system. Almost immediately, the system confirmed the vehicle was operating at that time in the local New Haven area. Therefore, the unit's task for that time was to locate and apprehend Mr. Conley. To do so, we mobilized and went to the area that we believed to be his last location. The vehicle was positively identified by a unit member, [near] Liberty Street, New Haven, although it was unoccupied at that moment. “Surveillance was established by members of the unit, including myself, to wait and see if he appeared. At approximately 1630 hours, the vehicle began to operate. Members of the unit began to conduct what is known as a ‘vehicle follow.’ I was operating my assigned state police vehicle (2018 silver Chevrolet Malibu). During this ‘vehicle follow’, a member of the unit positively identified the operator was Jebrell Conley. He was the lone occupant of the vehicle. At that time, I was operating my vehicle, attempting to keep surveillance of the Conley vehicle. Traffic at the time was heavy. The Conley vehicle was followed throughout New Haven to the Splash Car Wash located at 2 Boston Post Road, West Haven. At this time, there were approximately 6 unmarked police vehicles containing members of our unit (approximately 10-13 police officers). The Conley vehicle went through the Splash Car Wash, with him remaining in the vehicle. Once it exited the car wash, he drove back into the Splash Car Wash facility and parked in the area designated for individuals to vacuum their vehicles. He parked and exited his vehicle. He was, once again, positively identified. He was the only occupant of the vehicle. At that point in time, it was determined to be the optimal time to serve the warrant and apprehend him since he was outside of his vehicle, visible to the officers. “The two New Haven Police Department vehicles that were equipped with lights, including an exterior spotlight, and sire[n]s entered first and I followed behind them. All vehicles headed towards his location. The first two New Haven vehicles activated lights and siren sounds. The plan was to surround and contain the vehicle so that he could not re-enter his vehicle and drive off. I parked my vehicle on an angle behind his vehicle (rear driver's side) and exited my vehicle, carrying assigned Stop Sticks that are regularly used during these types of operations to prevent vehicle pursuits. I deployed the Stop Sticks. I was located on the left side of the vehicle, with my weapon drawn. It was obvious that Mr. Conley saw the police presence and decided to re-enter his vehicle. Once inside his vehicle, he put his vehicle in reverse and struck one of the New Haven Police Department vehicles. At this point in time, officers were shouting commands to him to stop. Officers, including myself, began to surround the vehicle. One officer opened the driver's door. I was on the driver's side of the vehicle, along with three other officers. Commands were being shouted, including ‘get out of the car’, ‘get out of the car, I will fucking shoot you’, ‘let me see your hands’, ‘don't you do it’, ‘don't you fucking move’, ‘yo, what are you doing?’. While this is occurring, Mr. Conley made a furtive movement, grabbing a cross-body bag from center console. Based on my training and experience, along with the nature of the ATF arrest warrant, I expected that he had a weapon in the bag. “I immediately became concerned for the safety of all officers, including myself. I was looking straight at him, our eyes locked on each other, and the bag was pointed right at my direction. I then heard the sound of a gunshot round from the inside of the vehicle. The glass from the [driver’s] window shattered, including some pieces impacting my body, so I knew that he had discharged his weapon in my direction. At this time, my life was in imminent danger, as I was in his direct line of fire with no effective cover or protection. Other officers were yelling ‘gun, gun, gun’ and attempting to seek cover. Mr. Conley had already fired in my direction, and based on my training and experience, the use of deadly force was authorized and appropriate. Therefore, while still in the zone of danger, I pointed my weapon at the driver and began to discharge my weapon, doing so in an effort to stop the threat on my life and the lives of the other involved officers. I began to move to my left, firing my weapon, towards the passenger side of the car. At the time, I was unsure how many times I had discharged my weapon. It appeared, at first, th[at] Mr. Conley was still upright in the drivers' seat but he soon fell from the vehicle and medical care was administered.”

On October 4, 2024, inspectors from the OIG interviewed Civilian Witness (CW) #1. The interview was video recorded. The interview may be summarized as follows. Civilian Witness #1 stated that, on September 19, 2024, he worked from home, and, after he was done working, he went to wash his car at Splash Car Wash. He stated that after washing his car, he parked by the vacuum area and was scrolling on his phone when another car parked next to him. CW#1 stated that a few minutes later, other cars pulled up, and officers began issuing orders to the person in the car parked next to him to get out of the car. He stated that he began recording this incident on his phone when he heard the police issuing orders. CW#1 stated that he saw a person try to get out of the car or someone trying to get the person out of the car. He stated that during this process of ordering the person out of the car, something dropped to the ground. He stated that he witnessed the police put their guns away that were close to the driver’s side of the car. He stated that he then heard gunshots and saw two officers back away from the car. CW#1 stated that he heard window glass breaking and shots fired. He stated that when he heard the gun shots, he ducked down but still recorded what he could with his cell phone. He stated that he heard approximately ten to fifteen shots fired. CW#1 also stated that after the shots were fired, people were telling him to leave, so he left the scene. He realized his car sustained a bullet from the shooting at Splash Car Wash after he left. He reported that he removed the bullet from his car himself and then went grocery shopping. After he finished grocery shopping, he came back to Splash Car Wash and talked to the police about what he saw. CW#1 stated that he gave an investigating officer the bullet he removed from his car and the video he recorded on his phone. 

On September 19, 2024, Civilian Witnesses #2 and #3 were interviewed by inspectors from the OIG. These interviews were video recorded on the BWC of one of the inspectors and can be summarized as follows. These witnesses stated that they had parked their red Honda Civic in the central vacuum area and a black Hyundai Tucson subsequently pulled into the space next to them. They stated that when they saw the police approaching, they got back inside their vehicle. They stated that they heard the police ordering someone out of their vehicle. Next, they stated that they heard gunshots and ducked down inside their car. One of them stated that they saw an individual on the ground and officers performing CPR on that person.

The shooting was captured on the body-worn cameras of various officers who initially responded to the scene. The incident was also captured on video taken by a civilian witness who was present at the scene and by a surveillance camera at the car wash. The most relevant videos are summarized and linked to below.

Officer Michael Valente’s BWC video shows that he arrived at the scene at 4:58 p.m. He exited his police vehicle in the car wash access lane, on the side of the property closest to the Dunkin Donuts and approximately fifteen yards to the rear and right of the Hyundai Tucson. As he walked towards the vehicle, Officer Vakos can be seen already standing at the passenger side front window of Conley’s vehicle and just to the left of the red Honda Civic. Valente quickly threw a “stop stick” in front of the front right tire of the car. Valente then moved to the left of Officer Vakos, who was attempting to open the front passenger door of the Hyundai Tucson. Next, Valente smashed the front passenger window of Conley’s vehicle with a department-issued tool designed for that purpose.5 Immediately thereafter, an officer can be heard yelling “holy shit” and then “gun, gun, gun!” Officer Vakos then quickly retreated from the window and Valente drew his service firearm. At 16:58:46 of the video, Conley can be observed inside the car holding a handgun with a large capacity magazine. The screenshot of that frame is set forth immediately below. (This tool is typically referred to as a “window punch.”)

the window and Valente drew his service firearm. At 16:58:46 of the video, Conley can be observed inside the car holding a handgun with a large capacity magazine. The screenshot of that frame is set forth immediately below.

Officer Sanchez’s video from his BWC shows that he parked and exited his police vehicle in an area of the property to the west of the car vacuum area. He walked past the rear end of white stretch limousine, where a man in a white baseball cap was standing. As Sanchez nears the Hyundai Tucson, other officers can be seen standing next to the driver side front door of the vehicle. Officer Huelsman can be seen standing next to the open driver side front door of Conley’s vehicle. He ordered him to get out of the vehicle. Officer Huelsman had his firearm drawn and ordered Conley to “show me your hands.” At this point, Officer Huelsman had taken a few steps backwards and Sanchez was then standing just outside Conley’s vehicle by the open car door. Conley can be seen with his left hand on the steering wheel and his right hand on the gearshift of the vehicle. Conley then drove his vehicle a foot or two in reverse until it struck the Ford Explorer that was parked just behind Conley’s vehicle to prevent its escape. Officer Sanchez thereafter dropped his handgun, which appears to have been caused by the sudden backwards movement of Conley’s vehicle, Sanchez quickly retrieved his weapon from the pavement with his right hand and can be heard exclaiming “oh, shit!” Sanchez then reached towards Conley with his open right hand, thereby suggesting that he had quickly holstered his firearm after picking it up. Conley can then be seen reaching for something with his left hand across his body towards the center console of his vehicle. Conley then moved his right hand back towards Sanchez while holding what appeared to be a cloth bag. In response, Sanchez quickly retreated to the rear left bumper of the vehicle, drew his service weapon and began to fire rounds at Conley. Conley’s left leg can then be viewed extending out the door of the vehicle. Simultaneously, a handgun with a large capacity magazine can be seen falling to the pavement from the open driver’s side door. Conley then fell out of the vehicle onto the pavement. Sanchez quickly picked up the handgun with the highcapacity magazine that had fallen out of the vehicle. Other officers handcuffed Conley and began to render him medical aid. After the officers checked each other for possible injuries, Sanchez walked towards a police cruiser and Officer Huelsman opened the trunk of the cruiser. Sanchez then placed the handgun with the high-capacity magazine in its trunk. Please note that the portion of Officer Sanchez’s BWC does not include the officers’ attempt to render medical aid to Conley as it is extremely graphic in nature.]

Officer Richter’s BWC video shows that he parked his vehicle, a Chevrolet Impala, to the rear of the driver’s side of the Hyundai Tucson, and on angle from the Ford Explorer. He exited his vehicle with a stop stick, which he immediately threw behind the rear tires of Conley’s vehicle. Richter walked towards Conley’s vehicle just as it began to move in reverse and then struck the front of the Ford Explorer. At this juncture, Richter is standing behind Officers Huelsman and Sanchez, who are by the open driver’s side door of the Hyundai Tucson. Sanchez can be seen bending over to retrieve his handgun after it had fallen onto the pavement. Richter then moved slightly to Sanchez’s left and unholstered his handgun, pointed it at Conley, and yelled “don’t you fucking move!” Sanchez can be seen returning his handgun to his holster. Immediately thereafter, a possible gunshot can be heard and the front driver’s side window was shattered outward. Richter next moved to his left and placed himself in front of the Hyundai Tucson, where he began to fire approximately eight rounds through the front window shield of the car. Richter continued to move to his left and around the front of the vehicle until he was standing outside of the front passenger’s side window. He fired several additional rounds through that car window. He then proceeded to walk back around the front of Conley’s vehicle until he could see Conley lying on the pavement outside of the car. Richter then removed his handcuffs from his duty belt and placed them on Conley.

The video from Officer Derek Huelsman’s BWC shows him arriving at the scene in his vehicle and parking approximately 15 yards behind and to the right of the Hyundai Tucson. Officer Huelsman ran from his vehicle to the front driver’s side door of Conley’s vehicle. He was the first officer to arrive at the vehicle. He opened the driver’s door and ordered Conley to get out of the vehicle and threatened to shoot him. He repeated to Conley his order to get out of the vehicle and demanded that he show his hands. Conley then backed his vehicle into the Ford Explorer. As Huelsman turned back towards Conley, Sergeant Sanchez can be seen retrieving his service weapon from the pavement. Sanchez can then be viewed attempting to pull Conley from his car, but Conley lifts a small bag in the direction of Sanchez. Immediately thereafter, someone yells “get down” and Huelsman retreats between the Ford Explorer and the Chevy Impala. Huelsman did not appear to discharge his weapon during the incident. He ultimately escorted Sanchez back to his police vehicle, unlocked the trunk and allowed Sanchez to store the recovered gun with the high-capacity magazine in the trunk.

Officer Paul Vakos’ BWC video shows that he arrived at the scene riding in the passenger seat of a police vehicle. The vehicle approached the scene and was parked approximately 15 yards behind and to the right of the Hyundai Tucson. Vakos exited the vehicle and ran directly to the front passenger’s side door of Conley’s vehicle. Just after he arrived at the door, Conley reversed the vehicle a foot or two. As Vakos attempted to open the door, a window punch wielded by another officer appears in the lower left-hand corner of the video and smashed the window. Conley can then be viewed lifting a small bag and attempting to remove a firearm from it. The firearm, inside the bag, appears to be pointed in the direction of Officers Sanchez and Richter, who are standing on the other side of the car. Just before he was able to do so, it appears that the front driver’s side window in the screen shot directly below is still intact.

The incident was also captured on the cellphone camera by Civilian Witness #1 who was seated in a vehicle in one of the parking spaces in the central vacuum area. This video shows Officers Huelsman, Richter and Sanchez near the front driver’s side door of the vehicle. Officer Sanchez can be seen retrieving his service weapon from the pavement and then placing his weapon back in its holster. Only Sergeant Richter had his service weapon drawn at this point. As Sanchez struggled to force Conley out of the vehicle, a single gunshot can be heard, and the front driver’s side window is shattered. Immediately thereafter, three of the officers sought cover, and Richter moved towards his left and the front of Conley’s vehicle. Richter and Sanchez then begin to fire rounds at Conley. At this point, Civilian Witness #1 sought cover below the dashboard of the vehicle obscuring the camera’s view. 

The civilian witnesses cell phone video copy is in youtube video link below.

Jebrell Conley was transported from the scene to Yale New Haven Hospital by ambulance after receiving CPR at the scene. He continued to receive CPR during transportation, and he arrived at the hospital at 5:19 p.m., without a pulse or cardiac activity. He had numerous, multiple penetrating gunshot wounds. Conley was pronounced dead at 5:20 p.m. On September 20, 2024, an autopsy was performed on Conley by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The autopsy disclosed that Conley suffered a total of twelve gunshot wounds, including to his head, neck, torso, arms and buttocks. The cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds to his torso and upper extremity. Bullets and bullet fragments were removed and sent to the state forensic lab for testing. Toxicology tests were performed postmortem on Conley’s blood, urine and vitreous fluid. They were negative for the presence of alcohol or illegal substances.

During the incident, Sergeant Sanchez observed a handgun fall out of the Hyundai Tucson from the front driver’s side door. He immediately seized this item for officer safety, and the weapon was secured in the trunk of Officer Huelsman’s unmarked police vehicle. At the time he seized the handgun, he observed an ejected fired cartridge casing stuck in the ejection port of the firearm.7 Officer Michael Rubino of the New Haven Police Department maintained custody over the vehicle in which the firearm was stored. Connecticut State Detective Thomas Curtis subsequently took possession of the firearm at the scene and transferred custody of the firearm to the evidence officer from the State Police Central District Major Crime Squad (CDMCS), Kimberlee Ruppar. The firearm was photographed at the scene with the ejected cartridge casing still in the ejection port. 

The firearm was then made safe at the scene, transported to CDSMCS headquarters and logged into evidence. The firearm was assigned Exhibit #08 and the spent shell casing was assigned Exhibit #08A. The firearm is a Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol (Serial #MVV450). It was recovered with a high-capacity magazine containing twenty-two rounds and one fired cartridge casing in the ejection port. The firearm was originally purchased in 2011 by a woman living in Waterbury, CT. In 2012, she reported to the Waterbury Police Department that the firearm had been stolen from her home. The firearm and expended shell casing were submitted to the Connecticut State Police Firearms Tracking Unit for forensic testing. The weapon was test fired and found to be operable. The spent shell casing and one of the two shell casings obtained by test firing the firearm were entered into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) system.8 The expended shell casing that stovepiped in the ejector port of the firearm (Exhibit #08A) was compared to a shell casing obtained by test firing the weapon. That examination resulted in the determination that the stovepiped shell casing originated from Conley’s Glock 27 firearm.

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The firearms of each of the officers who discharged their handguns were seized and submitted for forensic examination. Sergeant Richter was armed with a Glock 45 9mm pistol (Serial # BXEC945). It was seized from him along with a seventeen round capacity magazine. There were four rounds remaining in the magazine and one round was in the chamber of the pistol. This round count suggests that Richter fired thirteen rounds during the incident. Richter’s firearm was operable when test fired. Expended shell casings obtained by test firing the weapon were microscopically compared to shell casings recovered from the scene of the incident. This testing determined that thirteen shell casings recovered from the scene (Evidence marker ##s 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 33, 35 and 48) originated from Sergeant Richter’s firearm. In sum, this evidence strongly supports the conclusion that Richter fired thirteen rounds. Officer Valente was armed with a Glock 19 9mm pistol (Serial # BNNM543). It was seized from him along with a fifteen round capacity magazine. There were fifteen rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber when the firearm was seized. Two additional fifteen-

(* The NIBIN report disclosed a potential investigative correlation between this firearm and the murder of Daniel Gonzalez in Waterbury in 2012. There is no evidence that Jebrell Conley played any role in the commission of that crime. Luis Ortega subsequently pleaded guilty to murder of Gonzalez and is currently serving a thirty-five year sentence for that offense.)

-round capacity magazines were also seized from his duty belt. One magazine contained fifteen rounds, and the other magazine contained seven rounds. This configuration suggests that sometime during or shortly after the incident Valente switched out the magazine in his firearm for a full magazine. The total round count suggests that Valente fired eight rounds. Valente’s firearm was operable when test-fired. Expended shell casings obtained by test firing the weapon were microscopically compared to shell casings recovered from the scene of the incident. This testing determined that eight shell casings recovered from the scene (Evidence marker ##s 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 36, and 49) originated from Officer Valente’s firearm. In sum, this evidence strongly supports the conclusion that Valente fired eight rounds. Sergeant Sanchez was armed with a Glock 19 9mm pistol (Serial # BNNM777). It was seized from him along with a seventeen round capacity magazine. There were six rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber. This round count suggests that Sanchez fired ten rounds during the incident. If, however, prior to the incident, Sanchez “topped-off” his magazine after chambering a round in his firearm, the round count would suggest that that he fired eleven rounds during the incident. Sanchez’s firearm was operable when test fired. Expended shell casings obtained by test firing the weapon were microscopically compared to shell casings recovered from the scene of the incident. This testing determined that eleven shell casings were recovered from the scene (Evidence marker ##s 11, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 47) originated from Sergeant Sanchez’s firearm. In sum, this evidence supports the conclusion that Sanchez fired eleven rounds. Projectiles recovered from Conley’s body during his autopsy were microscopically compared to projectiles obtained by test-firing each of the officers’ service weapons. After microscopic examination and comparison, it was determined, “based on similar class characteristics and sufficient agreement of individual characteristics,” that one or more of the projectiles recovered from Conley’s body originated from the service weapons of Sergeant Richter and Officer Valente. With respect to Sergeant Sanchez, the results were inconclusive regarding whether any of the projectiles recovered from Conley’s body originated from Sanchez’s firearm.

Based on this investigation, I find the following material facts: 

1. On September 17, 2024, Jebrell Conley was indicted on federal robbery and firearm charges. He was well known to law enforcement. On September 19, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the Task Force received information that Conley was near Ella Grasso Boulevard driving a black Hyundai Tucson with New Jersey registration plate Y40-SND. 

2. A license plate reader device indicated that the Hyundai Tucson was at or near the Splash Car Wash on 2 Boston Post Road, West Haven in an outdoor bay area where customers use vacuums to clean their cars. 

3. At the car wash, Task Force officers observed Conley standing outside of the Hyundai Tucson. The officers approached and attempted to block in the vehicle using their task force vehicles. Conley spotted the officers and entered the Hyundai Tucson. 

4. Conley was in possession of a semiautomatic Glock pistol with a large capacity magazine. 

5. Officers approached the vehicle on foot to apprehend Conley. Officer Valente and Officer Vakos were standing just outside the front passenger’s door of Conley’s vehicle. Officer Huelsman, Sergeant Richter and Sergeant Sanchez were standing in the area near the front driver’s side door of the car. 

6. When approaching the Hyundai Tucson, the Task Force officers wore ballistic vests with the words, “Police” or “State Trooper” clearly visible on the front and rear of the vests. 

7. While they attempted to remove him from the vehicle, Conley attempted to flee in his vehicle by backing up his car. He was unsuccessful because he was blocked by Task Force vehicles. 

8. Several officers ordered Conley to get out of the vehicle and to show the officer his hands. Conley did not comply. 

9. Sergeant Sanchez continued to try to remove Conley from the vehicle. His service firearm was holstered at the time. 

10. Conley then attempted to access his Glock, which he had stored in a cloth bag near the center console. 

11. At that time, Sergeant Richter was standing just outside of the open front driver’s side door. 

12. Conley began to remove his firearm from the cloth bag. While still partially inside the bag, Conley discharged the weapon towards Sergeant Richter and Officer Sanchez. The round fired by Conley shattered outward the window of the front driver’s side door. 

13. After firing one round, Conley’s firearm stovepiped, thereby preventing Conley from discharging additional rounds. 

14. On the opposite side of the vehicle, Officer Valente heard the shot fired by Conley and then he could see Conley brandishing the firearm once Conley removed it from the bag. 

15. Officer Valente then fired eight shots at Conley.

16. At the same time, Sergeant Richter began to fire rounds at Conley through the front window shield of the vehicle as he moved to his left and around the front of the car. He continued to fire after reaching the passenger side of the vehicle, discharging several additional rounds through the front passenger window. Richter fired a total of thirteen rounds.

17. Immediately after Conley discharged his Glock, Sergeant Sanchez drew his service weapon and sought cover towards the driver’s side rear bumper of Conley’s vehicle. He then fired eleven rounds at Conley.

18. Multiple rounds struck Conley who fell out of the Hyundai Tucson onto the parking lot. Officers then swiftly provided Conley medical aid. 

19. Conley was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. 

20. Conley’s death was caused by multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by Officer Valente and Sergeant Richter.

The use of force by a police officer is governed by General Statutes §53a-22. The version of that statute in effect on September 19, 2024, in relevant part, provides: 

(b) [A] peace officer . . . is justified in using physical force upon another person when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes such use to be necessary to: (1) Effect an arrest or prevent the escape from custody of a person whom he or she reasonably believes to have committed an offense, unless he or she knows that the arrest or custody is unauthorized; or (2) defend himself or herself or a third person from the use or imminent use of physical force while effecting or attempting to effect an arrest or while preventing or attempting to prevent an escape. 

(c) (1) . . . a peace officer . . . is justified in using deadly physical force upon another person for the purposes specified in subsection (b) of this section only when his or her actions are objectively reasonable under the circumstances, and: 

(A) He or she reasonably believes such to be necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force; or 

(B) He or she (i) has reasonably determined that there are no available reasonable alternatives to the use of deadly physical force, (ii) reasonably believes that the force employed creates no unreasonable risk of injury to a third party, and (iii) reasonably believes such force is necessary to (I) effect an arrest of a person whom he or she reasonably believes has committed or attempted to commit a felony that involved the infliction of serious physical injury, and if, where feasible, he or she has given warning of his or her intent to use deadly force . . . .” (Emphasis added)

The statute further provides:

 “For the purpose of evaluating whether the actions of a peace officer . . . are reasonable under subdivision (1) of this subsection, factors to be considered include, but are not limited to, whether (A) the person upon whom deadly force was used possessed or appeared to possess a deadly weapon, (B) the peace officer . . . engaged in reasonable de-escalation measures prior to using deadly physical force, and (C) any unreasonable conduct of the peace officer . . . led to an increased risk of an occurrence of the situation that precipitated the use of force.” §53a22(c)(2). 

Accordingly, a police officer is justified in using deadly physical force upon another person when the officer reasonably believes such force to be necessary to defend the officer or a third person from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force. “Deadly physical force” means “physical force that can be reasonably expected to cause death or serious physical injury.” General Statutes § 53a-3(5). “Serious physical injury” means “physical injury which creates a substantial risk of death, or which causes serious disfigurement, serious impairment of health or serious loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ.” General Statutes §53a-3(4). 

A police officer is also justified in deadly force to when he or she reasonably believes such force is necessary to arrest a person whom the officer reasonably believes has committed a felony that involved the infliction of serious physical injury, provided there are no reasonable alternatives to the use of deadly force, the force employed creates no unreasonable risk of injury to a third party, and, where feasible, the officer has given warning of the intent to use deadly force. 

The reasonableness of a police officer’s belief under § 53a-22 is evaluated pursuant to a subjective-objective formulation. State v. Smith, 73 Conn. App. 173, 185, 807 A.2d 500, cert. denied 262 Conn. 923, 812 A.2d 865 (2002). Under this test, the first question is whether, on the basis of all of the evidence, the police officer in fact honestly believed that deadly force was necessary to defend himself/herself or a third person. Id. If it is determined that the police officer honestly believed that deadly force was necessary, the second part of the test asks whether the police officer’s honest belief was reasonable from the perspective of a reasonable police officer in the officer’s circumstances. Id. at 198.

The United States Supreme Court has explained this test as follows:

“The reasonableness’ of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on scene rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight. . . . [T]he calculus of reasonableness must embody allowance of the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second decisions—in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving—about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation.” Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396-97, 109 S. Ct. 1865, 104 L. Ed. 2d 443 (1989).

There is no dispute in this case that, by discharging their firearms at Jebrell Conley, Sergeant Richter, Sergeant Sanchez and Officer Valente each used deadly physical force against him. Accordingly, the critical inquiry in this case is whether each of the officer’s use of deadly physical force was objectively reasonable and therefore legally justified under the totality of the circumstances. 

Under Connecticut law as applicable here, a determination as to whether a police officer’s use of deadly force was legally justified requires, in part, consideration of four questions:

1. Did the officer, as a matter of fact, actually – that is honestly and sincerely – believe that he/she or a third person was facing either the actual or imminent use of deadly force when the officer used deadly force? 

2. Was that actual belief reasonable in the sense that a reasonable police officer in the officer’s circumstances at the time of the officer’s actions, viewing those circumstances from the officer’s point of view, would have shared that belief?

3. Did the officer, as a matter of fact, actually – that is honestly and sincerely – believe that the use of deadly force was necessary to defend himself/herself or a third person from such threat? 

4. Was that actual belief reasonable, in the sense that a reasonable police officer in the officer’s circumstances at the time of the officer’s actions, viewing those circumstances from the officer’s point of view, would share the belief that deadly force was necessary? 

Additionally, the reasonableness of the officer’s conduct also turns on whether (1) the other person possessed a deadly weapon (or appeared to), (2) the officer attempted reasonable de-escalation measures, and (3) the situation was not precipitated by the officer’s own conduct.

First, I conclude that each of the three officers honestly and subjectively believed that during the incident Jebrell Conley had used and would continue to use deadly physical force against themselves and/or their fellow officers. Each of the three officers honestly believed that Conley was armed with a firearm and in fact discharged it as they attempted to effectuate his arrest. Officer Valente saw Conley holding the weapon inside the car after he removed it from the cloth bag. Sergeant Richter was standing on the opposite side of the front driver’s side window when he heard a gunshot emanating from inside of the vehicle and the window was shattered from inside to outside, spraying fragments of glass on him. Sergeant Sanchez observed Conley pointing a cloth bag towards him and then heard a gunshot coming from the vehicle. Indeed, because the Task Force was serving an arrest warrant on Conley for firearm and robbery charges, and the ATF had informed the Task Force that he would likely be armed, it is reasonable to infer that each of them were not surprised that Conley possessed a firearm. 

Second, each of the officers’ belief that Conley used or was about to use imminent deadly force against them or their fellow officers was objectively reasonable. Any reasonable police officer in the same circumstances would have shared that view after being informed that the warrant for Conley’s arrest related to his possession of a firearm and they then observed Conley brandish a firearm and/or heard a gunshot emanate from the vehicle. Moreover, Conley’s lack of compliance with the officers’ orders to get out of the vehicle and to show his hands further suggested that he was reaching for a firearm. 

Third, each of the officers honestly and subjectively believed that it was necessary to defend themselves or their fellow officers by using deadly physical force. At the time that they fired rounds at Conley, they knew he had a firearm and that he already had fired a shot at them. Importantly, as a factual matter, none of the officers knew that Conley’s firearm had stovepiped and was incapable of firing additional rounds. The video evidence, which depicts a fast-moving and dangerous encounter with Conley, militates against any inference that the officers knew or should have known that Conley’s firearm had stovepiped. Instead, I find that that the officers honestly believed that shooting Conley was necessary to save their own life or the lives of the other officers just outside the car.

Finally, I conclude that a reasonable police officer in the same circumstances confronting Sergeant Richer, Officer Valente, and Sergeant Sanchez, when viewing those circumstances from the officers’ point of view, would share their belief that deadly physical force was required under the circumstances. It is important to note that there was no opportunity for deescalation. Conley immediately attempted to flee by attempting to back up his vehicle. When that maneuver was not successful, he quickly reached for his firearm while declaring “fuck this,” suggesting that he had already decided to immediately use deadly physical force against one or more of the officers. 

This conclusion should not be particularly surprising under the circumstances of this case. When police officers attempt to serve a warrant on an individual for firearm and robbery charges, it is reasonable to believe that such an individual may attempt to use violent means to avoid capture. When that individual then in fact attempts to shoot one or more of them trying to escape the service of that warrant, a reasonable officer must be concerned with protecting their own life, and the lives of their officers, by responding with deadly physical force. When Conley retrieved his firearm, a deadly weapon, from the console area of his vehicle and fired a shot towards Sergeant Sanchez and Sergeant Richter, the officers’ individual split-second decision to return fire in this quickly evolving circumstances cannot be viewed as anything but reasonable. 

The officers’ need to use deadly physical force was not precipitated by the officers’ individual actions. They had a general duty to attempt to serve a warrant involving serious felony charges on an individual who posed an ongoing risk to public safety and needed to be taken into custody. There is, of course, always the risk that the service of such a warrant on an individual who may possess a firearm will lead to a violent confrontation between a suspect and officers tasked with the service of the warrant. But such a violent confrontation could have arisen almost anywhere the officers attempted to serve the warrant. And there is nothing in the officers’ specific conduct or tactics here, beyond the inherent risks related to the service of a felony warrant, that precipitated the need to use deadly physical force. The necessity arose from the violent conduct of Conley.

I would be remiss if I did not comment on the decision of the Task Force to serve this warrant on Conley, whom they suspected possessed a firearm, at a busy car wash while Conley was parked within just feet of other occupied vehicles. There can be little dispute that their action posed substantial risks to those sitting in or standing next to their vehicles. Indeed, one vehicle, occupied by Civilian Witness #1, was struck with a round fired by one of the officers. The occupants of the red Honda Civic were also placed at risk of serious harm in this incident. The desire to apprehend an individual who arguably poses a threat to public safety must always be balanced by threat of harm that apprehension poses to innocent bystanders. Similar to the context of police vehicular pursuits of fleeing suspects, when serving a felony warrant on suspect believed to be armed, the question must first be asked “is the risk of injury or death to innocent persons worth the risk of serving a felony warrant in this particular place and at this particular time?” On the other hand, it is beyond the purview of my investigation to determine what steps the various law enforcement agencies in fact took to serve this warrant at other times and places that posed less of a risk of harm to innocent bystanders. It may well be that prior attempts to serve the warrant were not feasible or available before they located Conley at the car wash. And, of course, these considerations must be balanced against the importance of taking into custody an armed individual who was sought in connection with a shooting in Hamden. In other words, I have reached no conclusion about the ultimate wisdom of attempting to serve the warrant when Conley was located at the car wash. I simply point out that these are important questions to be considered anytime a felony warrant is served in a busy public place on an individual who is likely to be armed. As a result, I recommend the law enforcement agencies involved in this incident should engage in a substantial administrative ad hoc review of the propriety of the decision-making process in this case, and, if warranted, consider adopting policies that provide specific explication of the factors to be weighed in making decisions regarding the service of serious felony warrants where the suspect is likely to be armed.

In sum, I conclude that the use of deadly physical force by Sergeant Sanchez, Sergeant Richter and Officer Valente was objectively reasonable in response to the use of deadly physical force used by Jebrell Conley in this incident. Accordingly, I find that their actions were legally justified. Accordingly, I and my office will take no further action with respect to this matter.   September 30, 2025