By Christopher Berg and Sandy Malone
Branford, CT – The gunman who shot somebody, barricaded inside a hair salon in Branford all afternoon, and then reportedly claimed he has a bomb has been located deceased.
It’s unknown if the suspect was killed by an officer who returned fire or if he died by suicide.
The shooter was located after firing at police and citizens for about five hours from the Leon James International Hair Studio near Main Street at Cherry Hill Road, WABC reported.
Branford police put out a statement that said “responding officers encountered heavy gunfire coming from the upper floors of a business/apartment building.”
Police said 911 callers reported that someone had been shot nearby, the Hartford Courant reported.
Branford Fire and EMS said the victim was found nearby and transported to the Yale New Haven Hospital with injuries that were reportedly non-life threatening.
Branford police said officers were pinned down by the suspect’s gunfire and remained that way until armored Bearcat vehicles arrived on the scene, the Hartford Courant reported.
A witness told the Hartford Courant they heard the first burst of gunfire at about 11:50 a.m. on April 13.
Steve Milano described having heard the gunman fire 200 to 300 rounds in the first hour of the standoff.
Milano manages the Richlin Home and Auto located across the street from where the gunman is barricaded.
He told the Hartford Courant the shooter was “firing indiscriminately” with an automatic weapon.
“It’s crazy, I’ve never seen anything like this,” Milano said.
#BREAKING
— @OneJurorMatters (@OneJurorMatters) April 13, 2021
💣💣Suspect says he has a bomb & is threatening to blow-up the entire building💣💣
⛔ACTIVE SHOOTER, (1) VICTIM
⛔BARRICADED GUNMAN
➡️(Matt or Matthew)
SHOOTING RANDOMLY
FROM 241 Main Street
Leon James International Hair Studio
BRANFORD CONNECTICUT pic.twitter.com/0qzcjHblIg
Witnesses in a nearby laundromat told WTNH they heard the gunman firing a gun at officers and pedestrians.
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE: Hear from woman still trapped inside local laundromat after she says gunman opened fire on shopping plaza from second floor window @WTNH #OnlyOnNews8 5pm
— Sabina Kuriakose (@SabinaKuriakose) April 13, 2021
They said police told them to take cover in the back of the business.
The gunman fired hundreds of shots from the second floor of the house where the hair salon is located, the Hartford Courant reported.
🚨My office has received reports of an active shooter in Branford. Police are on the scene in the area of 241 Main Street. Please stay clear of that area. Our law enforcement officers are actively working to deescalate and apprehend the individual. Praying for everyone's safety.
— Christine Cohen (@SenatorCohenCT) April 13, 2021
#BREAKING
— @OneJurorMatters (@OneJurorMatters) April 13, 2021
💣💣Suspect says he has a bomb & is threatening to blow-up the entire building💣💣
⛔ACTIVE SHOOTER, (1) VICTIM
⛔BARRICADED GUNMAN
➡️(Matt or Matthew)
SHOOTING RANDOMLY
FROM 241 Main Street
Leon James International Hair Studio
BRANFORD CONNECTICUT pic.twitter.com/MDJw1xWrje
Sources told WTNH the bomb squad had arrived on the scene after the suspect threatened to blow up the building he was barricaded in.
Hours into the Branford standoff and here’s what we know:
— Kyle Jones (@KyleJonesNBC) April 13, 2021
Branford PD on FB says they got calls around noon and “responding officers encountered heavy gunfire coming from the upper floors of a business/apartment building.”
Scene is still active now. @NBCConnecticut pic.twitter.com/kzasVpCf9b
A person is barricaded in the area of Main Street near Cherry Hill Road in Branford, CT and shots were fired. There are road closures and some residents are being evacuated.
— Natasha ⚯͛ (@ndelriego) April 13, 2021
The suspect is now allegedly threatening to blow up the building he is barricaded in. https://t.co/NUCcdAZh3w
HAPPENING NOW: We’re on Main & Kirkham Streets in Branford where police have the streets closed off still. Traffic running smoothly so far – police are directing traffic pic.twitter.com/7Sp5SBUQDT
— Carmen Chau (@CChauFOX61) April 13, 2021
JUST IN – Police standoff in Branford, Connecticut. Shots fired.pic.twitter.com/edZq7KmQBG
— Disclose.tv 🚨 (@disclosetv) April 13, 2021