The shooting victim is being treated for non life-threatening injuries at UConn Health Center.

Shawn Moura. Courtesy of West Hartford Police

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police have arrested an 18-year-old man and a juvenile in connection with a “drug deal gone bad” Saturday night.

According to Capt. Mike Perruccio, the UConn Police Department notified West Hartford Police Saturday night at approximately 6 p.m. that a victim being treated at UConn Health Center’s Emergency Room reported that he had been shot in the area of Cornerstone Drive and Brookmoor Road in West Hartford. That location is a quiet residential area, near Cornerstone Pool and Buena Vista Golf Course.

The victim, who was a male, was the seller of the drugs, according to Perruccio. He is recovering from non life-threatening injuries and has not been identified. Police said that the victim had gone to the area to sell drugs to “someone he knew.”

“Officers got to work on the case immediately,” Perruccio said in a press conference Monday. The investigation led detectives to a resident at 1195 New Britain Ave., at the corner of Westgate Street.

Two possible suspects were identified, and police served a warrant Sunday night and arrested both suspects at the New Britain Avenue residence. A significant police presence was on the scene when the warrant was served, and the residence remained taped off with police evidence van in the driveway on Monday morning.

The suspect believed to have been the shooter is a juvenile, Perruccio said. He was not identified other than that he was male and a teenager. Police could not say whether or not he was a resident of the home where he was located.

The juvenile was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, and illegal discharge of a firearm. He is being held in juvenile detention on $250,000 bond.

The other suspect, Shawn Moura, 18, of Homecrest Street in Newington, was also arrested at the 1195 New Britain Ave. residence. He was charged with first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, and is being held on $75,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

Police remained on the scene of 1195 New Britain Ave. on Monday morning. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Perruccio said that narcotics and weapons were also found at 1195 New Britain Ave., but he could not say whether or not one of the weapons was the gun used in Saturday night’s shooting. Police remained on the scene Monday morning.

The victim has not been charged at this time, Perruccio said.

“Police have been there on multiple occasions,” Perruccio said regarding the 1195 New Britain Ave. residence.

In March 2016, the 1195 New Britain Ave. was the subject of an hours-long standoff involving police. In December 2016, police found evidence that bullets had been fired at the residence. In September 2016, individuals from that residence were arrested in conjunction with drug and stolen car incidents.

The discovery of narcotics and weapons on the premises “certainly leads us to believe that there may be more going on at that address.”

“When you have drugs and money in the ‘same room,’ it’s quite dangerous,” Perruccio said.

Perruccio said that he encourages people to “call, call, call” when they are concerned about something going on in the neighborhood.

This investigation is still ongoing and more charges may be filed, Perruccio said.

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