Luis Ortiz-Perez : "Berlin Man and Juveniles Charged in BB-Gun Incident"

Berlin Man Charged in BB-Gun Incident
Two Juveniles Charged in BB-Gun Incident.

Accident – Death – Obituary News : West Hartford Police reported that two juveniles and one adult, all teenagers, were apprehended on Saturday after firing BB-type guns at groups of people near West Hartford Center. The suspects then attempted to evade law enforcement.

An 18-year-old man from Berlin and two juvenile teens were taken into custody by West Hartford Police on Saturday afternoon. They face multiple charges related to shooting pellets from a BB-type gun at individuals outside Whole Foods on Raymond Road and on Farmington Avenue near the intersection with Bishop Road. The suspects then fled from authorities.

Both adult and juvenile victims were hit by the pellets, with one victim sustaining a facial injury. Emergency responders evaluated minor injuries suffered by several victims on the scene, according to Capt. Daniel Moffo.

Authorities received a report around 1 p.m. Saturday regarding an individual in a black Mercedes Benz pointing a BB gun at a person outside Whole Foods. Shortly after, another report came in about individuals in a black car shooting multiple people with pellets near the Bishop Road and Farmington Avenue intersection. One victim was shot in the face.

Police located the suspect vehicle, which had a stolen license plate, at the intersection of Park Road and Raymond Road. The driver failed to comply with police orders to stop and instead attempted to flee into Newington, disregarding traffic signals and signs.

West Hartford Police successfully used a tire deflation device to stop the vehicle. The two juveniles and the adult, identified as Luis Ortiz-Perez, 18, of Berlin, were arrested near 626 Willard Avenue in Newington with the assistance of the Newington Police Department. A “Surge XL gel blaster” was seized from the vehicle.

Ortiz-Perez faces charges including reckless endangerment, assault, and breach of peace. He is currently held on a $250,000 surety bond pending arraignment at G.A. 14 in Hartford.

The two juveniles, aged 16 and 17, were also arrested and issued summonses to appear in court based on their residence locations. The 17-year-old faces charges similar to Ortiz-Perez, while the 16-year-old, the vehicle operator, faces additional charges related to traffic violations and reckless driving.

“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 stated.