Vernon Shooting Leads To Pursuit Into Somers, Suspect Sought

VERNON/SOMERS, CT — Vernon and state police were involved in an ongoing investigation Friday that began with a shooting at an apartment complex in Vernon and spilled into Somers after a vehicle fled the scene.

At 12:45 a.m. Friday, Vernon police responded to the Parkwest Apartments for a reported shooting.

Vernon police spokesman William Meier said responding officers found that an apartment had been struck by "gunfire." No one was injured but the apartment was occupied at the time of the
shooting, he said.

A short time later, a Vernon officer spotted the vehicle believed to be involved in the shooting on Route 83 and attempted to stop it, Meier said. That led to a pursuit that traveled into Somers where the vehicle crashed onto grass at the corner of Routes 83 and 190, police said.

Those in the car fled the vehicle on foot and were still at large Friday morning. They are believed to be armed and dangerous, Meier said.

No further suspect descriptions were immediately available, Meier said.

Vernon and state police are collaborating in the search that has involved police dogs from Enfield and East Windsor and the Vernon Police Drone Team.

Police are asking anyone who sees anything suspicious to call 911.

Somers public school officials initially announced a two-hour delay and, "out of an abundance of caution," diverted to a full remote schedule Friday as authorities searched the town.

Police believe a disturbance preceded the shooting. One person is in custody in connection with the disturbance, Meier said. Anyone with information in the incident is being asked to call Vernon police at 860-872-9126.

Update:

At 4 p.m., Meier said, after an "exhaustive search" by the state police, investigators believe the suspect was no longer in the Somers area.

"Vernon police continue to follow up outside of Somers on investigative
leads," he said.

Vernon Police believe a "single adult male" was in the vehicle at the time it became disabled in Somers.

"Police are working to gather a further description and information about this male. He is
believed to be armed and dangerous," Meier said.

Vernon Police are interested in exterior home video camera footage from Somers residents that captured the suspect fleeing the area.

Police are asking Somers residents to review footage between 1 and 5 a.m. on Jan. It is possible
the suspect may have fled several miles from the Route 190 and 83 intersection he was last seen.

Anyone who has video footage that may be relevant to the investigation should contact
Vernon Police Detective Charles Hicking at 860-872-9126 or chicking@vernon-ct.gov.

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Patch editor Tim Jensen contributed to this story.