West Hartford Police said two juveniles and one adult, all teens, were arrested Saturday after firing BB-type guns into groups of people near West Hartford Center and then fleeing from police.

By Ronni Newton

An 18-year-old man from Berlin and two juvenile teens were arrested by West Hartford Police on Saturday afternoon and face a slew of charges in connection with firing pellets from a BB-type gun at people outside Whole Foods on Raymond Road and on Farmington Avenue near the intersection with Bishop Road, and fleeing police.

Both juvenile and adult victims were struck by the pellets, including one victim who was shot in the face, and minor injuries sustained by several victims were evaluated on the scene by first responders, Capt. Daniel Moffo said.

According to Moffo, police received a complaint at approximately 1 p.m. Saturday reporting that an occupant of a black Mercedes Benz had pointed a BB gun at someone who was sitting outside the Whole Foods at 50 Raymond Road.

A second complaint, received shortly thereafter, reported that the “occupants of a black car shot multiple people with pellets near the intersection of Bishop Road and Farmington Avenue,” and one of those victims was shot in the face, according to the report.

Police spotted the suspect vehicle, which had a stolen license plate, at the intersection of Park Road and Raymond Road, and the operator did not comply with a police order to stop, but instead attempted to engage police in pursuit and fled into Newington, going through several stop signs and red lights.

West Hartford Police officers were able to successfully deploy a tire deflation device, Moffo said, and two juveniles and the adult male, identified as Luis Ortiz-Perez, 18, of Berlin, were ultimately apprehended in the vicinity of 626 Willard Avenue in Newington, assisted by the Newington Police Department.

Police seized a “Surge XL gel blaster” that was located in the vehicle.

Ortiz-Perez has been charged with 10 counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer, four counts of risk of injury to a child, conspiracy to commit risk of injury to a child, seven counts of third-degree assault, conspiracy to commit third-degree assault, eight counts of second-degree breach of peace, and conspiracy to commit second-degree breach of peace.

Ortiz-Perez is being held on $250,000 surety bond pending arraignment at G.A. 14 in Hartford.

Luis Ortiz-Perez. Courtesy of West Hartford Police

The two juveniles, ages 16 and 17, were also arrested and issued summonses,with requirements to appear in court based on where they reside, police said. Their names were not provided because they are minors.

Police said the 17-year-old was charged with eight counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer, three counts of risk of injury to a child, conspiracy to commit risk of injury to a child, seven counts of third-degree assault, conspiracy to commit third-degree assault, eight counts of second-degree breach of peace, and conspiracy to commit second-degree breach of peace,.

The 16-year-old, who was the operator of the vehicle, was charged with 10 counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer, three counts of risk of injury to a child, conspiracy to commit risk of injury to a child, seven counts of third-degree assault, conspiracy to commit third-degree assault, eight counts of second-degree breach of peace, conspiracy to commit second-degree breach of peace, three counts of failure to stop for a stop sign, failure to drive right, four counts of failure to obey a traffic signal, passing in a no-passing zone, reckless driving, theft of a plate, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, insufficient insurance, engaging police in pursuit, and failure to display numbered plate.

“We are extremely grateful that no one was seriously injured during this incident, and would like to thank the West Hartford Fire Department (WHFD) and Newington Police Department for their assistance,” Moffo said in an email.

The incident remains under active investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact West Hartford Police at 860-523-5203, or via the anonymous tip line 860-570-8969 or email [email protected].

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