Hartford officer who fired shots responded to hit-and-run, came across shooting incident

The Office of Inspector General on Wednesday released a preliminary report on a shooting in Hartford that involved a Hartford officer.

One person was arrested in the case. The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Luis Ortiz of Hartford.

The shooting happened on Saturday around 12:15 a.m. at an address on Wethersfield Avenue.

The inspector general said that Hartford police Officer Devanand Budhoo was dispatched to Wethersfield Avenue for a report of a hit-and-run crash.

“While speaking with the damaged vehicle’s owner, Officer Budhoo heard gunshots that appeared to be coming from the house across the street at 474 Wethersfield Ave.,” the inspector general said. “Officer Budhoo saw a person, later identified as Jimmy Muriel, age 30 of Hartford, run from the front door of that house followed by a second person, later identified as Ortiz, who was firing shots in the direction of Muriel.”

Budhoo returned fire, the inspector general reported. No one was hit.

Hartford police arrested Ortiz on charges of criminal possession of a firearm and related charges. The investigation into what happened continued as of Wednesday.