BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — Local and federal authorities launched early morning raids in Bridgeport on Friday in connection with recent gang violence in the city, including a shooting outside a state courthouse that wounded four people in January.
State police said arrest and search warrants were approved for a number of suspects and homes, and a law enforcement task force executed the warrants. Officials planned to release information on arrests later Friday.
Authorities say the investigation involved state police, officers from Bridgeport and surrounding towns, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and state police from Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The raids focused on people associated with the Greene Homes Boyz street gang who are suspected of being involved in the shooting outside Bridgeport Superior Court on Jan. 27, state police said. The investigation centered on violence at and around the Charles F. Greene Homes housing complex.
Bridgeport officials said the courthouse shooting was linked to a fatal shooting the day before near the Greene Homes complex. Myreke Kenion, 18, was killed and a 21-year-old man was injured in the shooting.
In the shooting outside the courthouse, four people in a vehicle parked near the courthouse were wounded when gunfire erupted from a passing vehicle that sped away. Police say about 20 shots were fired.
City officers arrested three men they believe were connected to the shooting after a car chase, while another remained at large.
Police SWAT teams were deployed in the city on Friday morning.
“Because of the violent crimes these individuals are suspected to be related to, emergency services units were utilized to execute the warrants,” state police said in a statement.