Now this was odd. Wish I knew what the heck was up lol
HARTFORD, Conn. A man ambushed and shot a Willimantic police officer who went to his house Tuesday then led officers on a manhunt through a residential neighborhood and authorities were investigating the discovery of a man’s body inside the home.
The suspect, 34-year-old Andrew Samoulis, was injured by a police dog when he was captured. He was treated at hospital and held on $1 million bond.
A neighbor, Loretta Schultz, said Samoulis lived with his father in the home where the officer was shot.
She said neighbors had been growing concerned because they hadn’t seen the father in more than a month and no one was mowing the lawn.
‘‘They are really, really quiet people. They keep to themselves,’’ Schultz said of the father and son. ‘‘It’s a very tight block. Everybody knows each other’s business.’’
A few officers went to the house in a residential neighborhood south of downtown Willimantic to conduct a well-being check by someone outside the home, according to Lt. J. Paul Vance, a state police spokesman.
Schultz, 32, said she heard three gunshots after police went inside the home, and the suspect ran out the back door into the woods dressed in camouflage. Police officers swarmed the neighborhood and told residents to stay inside.
‘‘I'm a little psyched up right now,’’ Schultz said. ‘‘It’s crazy. I've never seen anything like it.’’
Officials say the wounded officer is in stable condition at a hospital with injuries that aren’t life-threatening. The names of the dead man and wounded officer haven’t been released.
While police searched for the man, a news team from WFSB-TV reported seeing the suspect. The crew dropped to the ground when he started firing shots.
Vance said Samoulis had a handgun on him when he was arrested and officers also seized a long gun.
Samoulis has been charged with breach of peace and interfering with police, but state police anticipate more charges once the investigation is completed.
