West Hartford Police responded to a shots fired incident early Friday morning and were able to take the shooter into custody.

By Ronni Newton 

A man that West Hartford Police believed was the suspect in a reported “shots fired” incident on Fairlawn Street early Friday morning initially did not cooperate, resulting in the deployment of the Emergency Services Unit and assistance of the New Britain and Farmington police departments.

Sgt. Amanda Martin said police evacuated area residents “out of an abundance of caution,” but the suspect, identified as John Cassidy, 39, of Fairlawn Street, did exit the residence and was taken into custody.

Police said the report of shots fired was received at 1:09 a.m. on April 1, and when they arrived on-scene they found a shell casing on the porch of a residence at 55 Fairlawn Street.

According to police they had developed information that Cassidy was the shooter, and had fired several rounds, but he did not initially respond to officers’ attempts to make contact.

No injuries were reported during the incident, police said.

Cassidy was taken into custody and charged with criminal possession of a pistol/revolver, illegal discharge of a firearm, criminal use of a weapon, first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal mischief, and second-degree breach of peace. He is being held on $250,000 surety bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Hartford Superior Court.

Cassidy has several previous convictions including violation of a protective order, and has several pending charges related to a January risk of injury and breach of peace incident.

The West Hartford Detective Division is continuing to actively investigate the incident, which they said appears to be isolated. There is no threat to the public, police said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact West Hartford Police either at the main non-emergency number (860-523-5203), the anonymous tip line (860-570-8969), or via the confidential email tip line [email protected].

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