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Feb. 03--WETHERSFIELD -- -- A shooting by a police officer that left a man dead shortly before midnight Tuesday started out as a routine check on a suspicious motorist, state police said.
Officer Justin Lord, a seven-year police veteran, had been checking on the man, whom he noticed sitting in a car in the driveway of the Soundbridge Early Learning Center at 123 Progress Drive.
It was the kind of police work that "is very common for a cop on patrol," said Lt. J. Paul Vance, a state police spokesman. State police are investigating at the request of the New Britain's state's attorney and Wethersfield Police Chief James Cetran.
After being ordered out of the car, the man tried to run, according to Vance. Lord caught the man after a short chase, but the man struggled violently and tried to take Lord's gun, Vance said.
Lord's weapon fell to the ground during the fight and the suspect continued to be extremely violent and wrapped his arms around the officer's neck, state police said.
Lord was able to get control of his weapon and fired it at the suspect, state police said.
Emergency medics responded and the suspect was taken to Hartford Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Vance declined to release his name until relatives are notified.
Lord was injured during the fight and was transported to Hartford Hospital for treatment, state police said. Police declined to elaborate on his injuries.
Vance said the officer likely will be given an administrative assignment during the state police investigation, which is typical after officer-involved shootings.
Lt. Andrew Power of the Wethersfield police could not confirm that late Wednesday morning.
The incident is the second shooting by a police officer this week. A Middletown officer working undercover with a state police drug task force shot a suspect in the arm in Glastonbury Monday after the suspect backed his car into a state trooper.
