Man Fatally Shot By Stratford Police, New Details Released

STRATFORD, CT — A 36-year-old man was fatally shot by Stratford police officers during Friday night’s incident on Main Street, according to authorities.

The man was identified as Christopher Hagans, of Okenuck Trail in Stratford, according to a preliminary report released by the Hartford State’s Attorney’s office on Tuesday. The Chief Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as gunshot wounds to the head, torso, left upper and lower extremities.

The shooting happened around 7:35 p.m. on Main Street in the Putney section of Stratford. Before the shooting, Stratford police were assisting the Naugatuck Police Department with serving an arrest warrant for Hagans on charges including home invasion and strangulation.

Stratford police were told Hagans was believed to be armed and dangerous and possibly in possession of a gun, according to the report by Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese L. Walcott.

As officers were conducting a surveillance check of Hagans’ home, he was seen leaving in a vehicle he was known to drive.

“Police, in an unmarked vehicle, followed behind Hagans until his vehicle stopped for a traffic light at Main Street Putney,” Walcott wrote in the report. “Officers reported attempting a motor vehicle stop at the traffic light to avoid a potential pursuit by having a marked police vehicle move in front of Hagans’ vehicle while the unmarked vehicle stayed behind. Both police vehicles activated red and blue flashing lights while police officers gave verbal commands for Hagans to show his hands.”

Officials said Hagans didn’t comply with police commands and an officer can be heard on body camera video alerting other officers that Hagans appeared to have a gun.

Hagans’ vehicle then moved forward and collided with the marked police vehicle and officers discharged multiple rounds, according to Walcott.

“Hagans’ vehicle then became stuck in the snow between road signs that were damaged when Hagans’ vehicle collided with them,” Walcott wrote. “At this time, it is reported that Hagans exits the vehicle and draws fire from officers on scene. A firearm was located on the ground next to Hagans and was secured by Officer John Cannata at the scene. Investigators are working to match ballistics evidence recovered from the scene to the firearms reportedly discharged during the incident.”

Six officers were present during the incident including, Lt. Robert Rosenbaum, Detective Glynn McGlynn, Officer Stephen Santoro, Officer Lawrence Overby, Officer John Facto, and Officer John Cannata, according to Walcott.

Walcott said preliminary reports indicate Cannata and Facto didn’t fire their weapons.

“All available body worn camera and motor vehicle dashboard camera footage has been obtained from the Stratford Police Department,” Walcott wrote. “Authorization has been given for the portion of the footage that covers the incident to be released.”

Walcott met with Hagans’ wife and other family members on Monday to “express condolences and to explain and answer any questions about the investigative process.”

Walcott said the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office is "committed to working closely with investigators to complete an independent, objective and thorough investigation in a timely and transparent manner."

Authorities released the following body camera footage from the shooting (warning: contains graphic content):