Ridgefield Car Theft Shooting Case Continued

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The case of the Ridgefield man accused of shooting a 15-year-old girl in the back when she attempted to steal his car has been continued to next month.

Hulda Lane homeowner Mauro Tropeano, owner of Stanziato’s Wood Fired Pizza in Danbury, told police he ran outside when he saw two people try to steal his 2014 Range Rover and crash it into a lamppost around 3 a.m. on June 5, 2017. According to court documents, a group of teens from Waterbury had traveled to the area with the intention of stealing cars.

Tropeano is accused of firing his gun at the group, striking a 15-year-old girl in the back. He initially denied the shooting, but later said he had pulled the trigger in self-defense, according to court documents.

When police returned to Tropeano's home on June 6, they found a variety of drugs, including seven pounds of marijuana wrapped in one-pound packages. Police also found 219 unmarked yellow pills as well as five boxes of hypodermic needles, according to the affidavit. Investigators also found several different kinds of anabolic steroids such as Deca-Durabolin, as well as $26,357.35 in cash.

Police later charged Tropeano with second-degree assault, sale of illegal drugs, illegal discharge of a firearm and interfering with police. He has pleaded not guilty.

The case is now scheduled to go before state Superior Court in Danbury on Feb. 7.