CT Inspector General Clears Cops in Fatal Shooting

0:00It's April 2nd, Hartford News Today starts now, AI powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. Connecticut's Inspector General just cleared three Hartford police officers in a fatal shooting last March. They ruled that Detective Joseph Walsh and two others acted reasonably when they fired at 21-year-old William Bowen. This came in a report dropped Thursday, saying the whole situation made their choices legally justified. It all started when cops spotted Bowen on Instagram live in the north end, looking like he had two guns around 2.30 pm on March 6th. Task Force officers rolled up on homestead avenue in unmarked cars. Bowen pointed with seam like a handgun at them, so officers robber Bowen and Benjamin Lee shot but missed. Bowen ditched the weapons and bolted through back yards to Magnolia Street, where Walsh was waiting. He charged straight at Walsh holding his phone, but in that split second, Walsh thought it was a gun and fired four rounds that killed him. Doorbell video caught Walsh yelling to drop it right before.

1:02The report stresses Walsh had reason to fear for his life, given Bowen had already aimed at other cops and ditched high-capacity firearms. No charges for the officers, even as Hartford PD, faces heat from two recent fatal shootings during mental health calls. Meanwhile, the mayor fired one officer involved in one of those, but the police union calls it justify force and plans to fight back with. Grievances. These probes highlight the tough calls cops make, and more anxious could drop soon.