UPDATE: The victim has been identified as Richard Love. Police say he was a suspect in several bank robberies in Connecticut and Rhode Island. They took drugs, a gun and large amounts of cash from the motel room where Love had been staying.
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OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (WTNH) — One person is dead after an officer involved shooting Saturday morning in Old Saybrook.
“I saw the tape, I saw the cops, I saw the state cops, I saw the two wagons over there and I realized it was well contained,” said Sybil Nassau who lives in the neighborhood of the shooting.
Police from Old Saybrook and Norwich responded to the Econo Lodge on Boston Post Road around 1 a.m. on a report that a suspect from several investigations was staying at the motel.
When officers arrived, they saw the suspect through a window with a firearm and heard gunshots from inside the room. The State Police Emergency Services Unit Tactical Team (a.k.a SWAT) was called for assistance with the barricaded suspect.
“We heard gun shots go off and that’s when everybody started running,” said Garritt Rehberg who was in the area at the time of the shooting.
Econo Lodge customers were evacuated from the surrounding motel rooms, approximately 60 of them ending up at a restaurant called the “Blue Crab” across the street.
“We just put food out and I made up chips and sliders and they all just sat down we got them tea and coffee and probably a couple beers,” said Blue Crab owner, Laurie Ames.
The State Police Tactical Team entered the motel room when they arrived and the suspect pointed the firearm at them. Police say the suspect ignored orders to drop the weapon, which was when one of the SWAT team members fired and struck the suspect.
No injuries were reported by members of the SWAT team, local police officers or bystanders.
Detectives from Eastern District Major Crime are taking over the investigation. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also responded and will determine the identification of the deceased as well as cause of death.
