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NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:  Friday, April 27, 2007

HARTFORD POLICE SEIZE EIGHT GUNS AND MAKE  EIGHT ARRESTS ON FIREARMS CHARGES

(Hartford) - In four separate incidents on last night Hartford Police seized eight guns and made eight arrests on firearms and numerous other charges.

In commenting on the arrests and seizure of firearms, Assistant Chief Jose L. Lopez, Chief of Detectives, said, "The best way to prevent gun violence is to get these guns off the street.  The recovery of these guns and arrests show how the community working with the police makes a difference.  The officers have done a good job locating guns with the information provided by a community who is not scared to take back their neighborhoods." 

The following are summaries of the four incidents and arrests.

Robbery/Home Invasion/Shots Fired at Officer, 161 Martin Street.

At approximately 3:40 a.m. this morning HPD Officers Jeremy Ball and Elbe were dispatched to 161 Martin Street on a report of a home invasion.  Upon arrival, the officers learned that two suspects had fled out the back door.  The officers pursued the suspects on foot.  As Officer Ball approached one suspect in the backyard the suspect fired several times in the air, then continued to flee west bound through an empty lot where he then paused and turned firing his weapon directly at Officer Ball who immediately sought cover behind the building.  Meanwhile, Officer Elbe approached the southwest corner of 161 Martin Street and observed the accused walking quickly through the empty lot to Garden Street and was seen by witnesses tossing a pistol over a fence into the rear yard of 714 Garden, then entering  714 Garden Street.  Officers located the suspect on the third floor rear stairwell as he was observed attempting to conceal several objects.  The suspect actively fought arrest but was eventually taken into custody.  A pistol and spent shell casings were recovered at the scene.  The second suspect was located by officers as he attempted to hide after falling between two fences separating 161 Martin and 714 Garden Street.  After a brief struggle he was taken into custody.  The pistol that was seen being tossed over a fence into the rear yard of 714 Garden Street was recovered.  No officers were injured during the incident.

Arrested and charged with robbery in the first degree, two counts of conspiracy, burglary first degree, and interfering with police, assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a pistol, carrying a pistol without a permit and unlawful discharge of a gun, was Horace AKA David Vasquez, 29, of 865 Tower Avenue, Hartford.  Vasquez' bond was set at $1 million pending arraignment in Hartford Superior Court.  Also arrested was Shaun Hawkins, 30, of 381 Broadview Terrace, who was charged with interfering with police, two counts of robbery first degree and two counts of burglary first degree. Hawkins bond was also set at $1million pending arraignment in Hartford Superior Court.

Suspicious Party with a Firearm, 90 James Street.

On April 27th at approximately 12:40 a.m., officers of the Northeast Conditions Unit arrested four individuals on firearms charges and seized three loaded firearms at 90 James Street.  Two of the four individuals, 16 year old juveniles, were charged with carrying a pistol without a permit and interfering with police.  Jason Colon, 25, of 97 Van Block Avenue, was charge with carrying a pistol without a permit and altering the ID of a pistol.  Colon's bond was set at $300,000.  Also arrested was Jose Lopez, 26, of 402 Freeman Street, who was charged with having weapons in a motor vehicle.  Lopez' bond was set at $100,000.

Complaint of gunshots discharged, 63 Annawan Street.

On April 26th, at approximately 8:00 p.m., officers responded to a report from citizens of shots fired in the area of 63 Annawan Street.  Within seconds, the suspect, a 16 year old Hispanic male juvenile, was apprehended by Hartford Police Officers Dave Marinelli and Rick Sarju in the rear alley of 63 Annawan Street.  The gun, recovered by Officer Ryan Rea, was located in a garbage receptacle.  The juvenile was charged with reckless endangerment first degree, carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a gun, stealing a firearm, and carrying a dangerous weapon.  His bond was set at $750,000. 

Firearm Arrest, Niles and Gillett Streets.

On April 26th, at approximately 3:40 p.m., the HPD's Violent Crime Intervention Team (VCIT), received information that an individual was operating a "cooper" colored Volvo Station wagon in the area of South Marshall Street and that the operator of the vehicle was in possession of two firearms.  The vehicle was located and stopped by police at the intersection of Niles and Gillett Streets.  The operator of the vehicle, Kuwan Russ, 27, of 17 Clinton Street, Manchester, was found in possession of a Glock 17 and a Ruger 9mm.  Russ was taken into custody and charged with criminal possession of a firearm, weapons in a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit and altering a serial number of a firearm.  His bond was set at $750,000 pending arraignment in Hartford Superior Court.

Below are Mugshots of non-juvenile adult arrestees mentioned above.

Horace AKA David Vasquez, DOB 1/10/78

Shaun Hawkins, DOB 3/11/77

Jason Colon, DOB 4/24/81

Jose Lopez, DOB 7/27/80

Kuwan Russ, DOB 8/29/79

Contact:   Nancy Mulroy, Public Information Officer, Hartford Police Department,  (860) 757-4021
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