Author: Stephen Krauchick

DoingItLocal is run by Steve Krauchick. Steve has always had interest with breaking news even as an early teen, opting to listen to the Watergate hearings instead of top 40 on the radio. His interest in news spread to become the communities breaking news leader in Connecticut’s Fairfield County. He strongly believes that the public has right to know what is happening in their backyard and that government needs to be transparent. Steve also likes promoting local businesses.

Bridgeport News: Teen Arrested In Deliveryman Homicide

#Bridgeport CT– On March 4, 2023, at approximately 7:25 pm, Bridgeport Police responded to the area of Boston Avenue and Palisades Avenue on a ShotSpotter activation. ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection system. Once gunshots are fired in an area covered by this service, police receive a notification within one minute directing them to the exact location of the gunfire. Citizens also called the Bridgeport Emergency Operations Center reporting numerous shots fired and a person shot.

Within minutes of the ShotSpotter activation, 1st responding Bridgeport Police Officer Sorie Kamara engaged an armed 17-year-old suspect in foot pursuit on Tudor Street. The juvenile suspect was quickly apprehended by Officer Kamara and placed under arrest.

Police officers, along with AMR Ambulance medics, responded to the area and located an unresponsive 36-year-old Flushing NY man lying on the ground next to an apartment building at 1525 Boston Avenue. The victim, a Chinese food delivery driver, suffered numerous gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officers secured the crime scene and notified the Detective Bureau (DB).

The DB Homicide Squad took charge of the investigation and Detectives from the Identification Unit processed the scene. Several items of evidence were collected including ballistic evidence. The investigation produced strong leads with the 17-year-old Bridgeport teen becoming a strong person of interest. On March 4, 2023, the juvenile suspect was charged by the Patrol Division with Interfering with a Police Officer, Assault on a Police Officer, and Carrying a Pistol without a Permit. An order to detain was granted.

As a result of relationships built between our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, the Bridgeport Police Department has equipment in our possession that connects us directly with the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistics Information Network. Better known as NIBIN. This computer system takes detailed 3d images of spent shell casings and puts them into a national database with other ballistic images. NIBIN produced an investigative connection within hours of the homicide. The shell casings collected at the murder scene match the ballistics on the firearm recovered from the 17-year-old suspect.

The 17-year-old juvenile, Justin Castro, was charged this morning with Murder, Criminal Attempt-Robbery in the 1st Degree, and Murder-Commission of Felony. The bond is set at 3 million dollars.

Anyone with additional information regarding this crime is encouraged to call Homicide Detective Keith Hanson at 203-581-5243 or utilize the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES FOUR GHOST GUN DEALERS FOR ILLEGAL SALES IN CONNECTICUT

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today sued four out-of-state firearm dealers selling and advertising illegal, untraceable “ghost gun” parts in Connecticut.

On October 1, 2019, Connecticut banned the sale and receipt of unfinished frame and lower receiver gun components lacking serial numbers or unique identification, which are used to build ghost guns. Despite that, defendants Indie Guns of Florida, Steel Fox Firearms of Florida, Hell Fire Armory of North Carolina, and AR Industries of Utah each sold and shipped illegal ghost guns to an undercover investigator from the Office of the Attorney General.

The four firearm dealers each advertise and sell a variety of firearms and components, including ghost gun components that allow consumers to easily assemble handguns, fully functional AR-15 style automatic rifles, and other untraceable illegal guns. These components are shipped without serial numbers direct to consumers, bypassing federal licensed firearms dealers and background checks. The defendants ship illegal ghost gun parts directly to consumers without confirming whether the consumers are licensed to possess a firearm.

While websites for AR Industries and Steel Fox stated that they would not ship “AR-15 80% Lower Receiver” ghost gun kits to Connecticut, both companies shipped illegal ghost guns to a Connecticut address anyway. Indie Guns and Hell Fire had no warning, notice, or disclaimer.

By selling products that are expressly prohibited under Connecticut law, the lawsuit accuses each company of unfair and deceptive advertising, marketing and sales in violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.

“Ghost guns are an untraceable menace that exists for one reason—to evade law enforcement and registration. They are a threat to public safety and they are illegal in Connecticut. If you ship ghost guns into Connecticut, we will find you, stop you, and hold you accountable,” said Attorney General Tong. “Indie Guns, Steel Fox Firearms, Hell Fire Armory and AR Industries all knew their ghost guns were illegal in Connecticut and they shipped these weapons to Connecticut anyway. We won’t let them get away with it.”

“The Department of Consumer Protection’s mission is to protect public health and safety. It is hard to imagine a more direct threat to public safety then shipping illegal ghost guns into the State. We look forward to supporting the attorney general in his efforts to take decisive action against this activity,” said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull.

This press release was made possible by:

STRATFORD LIBRARY’S TESS BECK TO RETIRE

Youth Services Staffer Since 1999 Exits April 4

The Stratford Library has announced that Youth Services Librarian Tess Beck will retire her position on April 4 after 24 years. Beck graduated with a Master’s in Library Science from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. She joined the Stratford Library Youth Services Department in July 1999.

Tess Beck was instrumental in creating numerous programs at the Library which addressed child development needs and skills for new parents. These included Baby Lapsit, Beginning with Babies, Babies & Beyond, Storytimes, and StoryCraft programs. Known for her colorful bulletin boards and numerous art classes, Beck conducted several outreach initiatives over the years taking her storytime programs to area

daycare programs and preschools. Working with current Department Head Caitlin Augusta, she also contacted local businesses and organizations to partner with the Library for its popular “Read Around Stratford” program. She has served on Connecticut’s Nutmeg Book Award Committee and ALSC (Association for Library

Services to Children) Notable Recordings Committee. Beck was also active in the Connecticut Storytelling community and was chair of the Fairfield County Children’s Librarians Roundtable for several years.

According to Library Director Sheri Szymanski, Beck will be greatly missed at the Library. “Tess Beck has been an invaluable resource to our Library and the greater Stratford community”, she said. “We congratulate her on a well-earned retirement”. A public reception for Tess Beck will be held in the Stratford Library Children’s Department on Monday, April 3 from 3-6 pm. The public is invited.

This press release was made possible by:

Bridgeport News: Serious Crash At Boston and Pembroke Street

Police UPDATE:

One woman is dead, and several children were taken to area hospitals after a multivehicle crash in Bridgeport Monday, according to police.
Two vehicles ended up in the median of Boston Avenue, and one car flipped onto its roof.
Police say the car that flipped had one person inside and the car it crashed into had four passengers, including two children, who are being treated for their injuries. Police say the adult woman in that car is the one who died.
Police have not confirmed the cause of the crash, but witnesses say they thought one car looked like it was going fast.

2023-03-06@3:28pm–#Bridgeport CT– Bridgeport Police is working with the Fairfield Accident to investigate a serious crash on Boston Avenue at Pembroke Street. There were at least 3 responsive people at the scene which included children. This is still breaking news so there are not a lot of details at this moment. Boston Avenue heading towards Stratford is closed starting at East Main Street for the investigation.

Bridgeport News: Man Shot On Howard Avenue

Police UPDATE: At 00:25hrs the Bridgeport ECC received a ShotSpotter activation for the 1200th block of Howard Ave followed by a 911 call reporting a party shot. BPD and AMR were dispatched and on-scene reports indicated a male party found with a gunshot wound. Party was transported to the hospital and the Bridgeport Police Detective Bureau notified. No further information on the victim’s injuries. This is an active investigation at this time.

2023-03-06@12:30pm–#Bridgeport CT– A man was shot inside an apartment in the 1200 block of Howard Avenue. The man did not appear to be conscious at the time. This is breaking news and so there is no further information at this time. This shooting comes the night after the city’s 4th homicide of the year. I’m told that detectives cannot come out to investigate until morning unless it is a homicide.

Highly Respected Chief Passes

It is with great sorrow to share Fairfield Fire Department’s post of the passing of Assistant Chief Chris Tracey. Tracey not only had the respect of firefighters but also officials and media alike.

Not many know that Tracey gave up an acting career to pursue his career as a firefighter in Fairfield and rose to the rank of Assistant Fire Chief. You can see his IMDB report here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0870506/bio and Frank Recchia from News12 did a report on it as well as you can see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7WUkVWHb5Y

You will be deeply missed chief! I feel like I lost a close family member.

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