A normally tranquil street in Stamford, Connecticut was transformed into a scene of intense armed conflict on Tuesday afternoon, as an unidentified gunman barricaded himself inside a house and opened fire on police officers.
Barrage of Gunfire on Residential Street
The incident unfolded on Oaklawn Avenue, where authorities reported hearing nearly three dozen gunshots during the prolonged confrontation. Harrowing video captured by News 12 Connecticut reporter Marissa Alter recorded the moment the suspect began firing around noon.
Fourteen shots rang out in rapid succession initially, causing an officer at the scene to urgently shout at residents, "Back up, back up... Get out of here." Moments later, a second barrage of approximately twenty more shots was heard, prompting officers to instruct bystanders to "Get in your car!" for safety.
Major Police Response and Escalation
As the standoff continued, the police response escalated significantly. A SWAT team was called to the scene, and an armoured vehicle was deployed onto the residential street. Officers also utilised drones in an attempt to locate the suspect within the property.
In a dramatic move, police even tore down the front half of the home at 263 Oaklawn Avenue in their efforts to resolve the situation. Despite these extensive measures, the suspect continued to fire his weapon intermittently.
By 2:30 pm, Stamford police declared the situation a "public safety matter" on social media, urging residents and drivers to avoid the area of Oaklawn Avenue and Dartley Street.
Community Shock and Unanswered Questions
Local resident Cindy Richardson, who has lived in the neighbourhood for more than two decades, expressed her terror at the unprecedented events. "It's not everyday you hear something like that," she told News 12 Connecticut. "Even though we're not directly next to it, it's really loud."
She described Oaklawn Avenue as "normally pretty quiet" and said she was "pretty blown away" by the scale of the police response, including the numerous SWAT vehicles.
As night fell, the suspect remained holed up inside the property. Key details remain unclear:
- The identity of the suspect has not been released by authorities.
- It is unknown if anyone was injured or killed in the exchange of gunfire.
- The motive for the shooting is not yet established, though property records indicate the house had recently been foreclosed upon.
The investigation is ongoing as police work to bring the dangerous standoff to a peaceful conclusion.
