BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) - The family of a man fatally shot by a police detective last April is calling for state police to finish a report on an investigation into what happened.
An attorney for relatives of Bryan Stukes released a letter on Monday asking Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to intervene, saying a delay in releasing the findings has caused them undue suffering.
“The hideous delay in releasing the findings of this investigation not only cause undue pain and suffering to the Stukes’ family and friends, but cause the neighborhood and community at large to further doubt and suspect the very institutions we rely on to serve and protect,” the letter states.
State police say they are moving as efficiently as possible.
“We are progressing with the case,” state police Lt. J. Paul Vance said. “There is a great deal of work on any shooting case and a complete exam of all facts and circumstances.”
State police said last April that Bridgeport police responded to a call of a man with a rifle threatening people. They said Detective Christopher Borona ordered the man to drop the weapon but he didn’t comply and turned toward Borona, forcing Borona to fire at him.
The Stukes family’s attorney Martin Minella challenged the official version of events. Minella said the family has found witnesses the state police didn’t interview and turned over a bullet fired by the detective, refuting statements he made about the shooting. They say Stukes was shot in the back and are upset the detective was returned to active duty.
Police Chief Joseph Gaudett Jr. called Borona a respected and dedicated detective.
“I will say this: We are cooperating completely with the state police, and I’m confident that Detective Borona’s actions were completely justified,” Gaudett said.
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