Westbrook, Connecticut: Man Charged With Murder After Shooting Leaves One Dead and One Critical

A 37-year-old man has been charged with murder and attempted murder after a shooting inside a Westbrook home on Wednesday evening left one person dead and another in critical condition, Connecticut State Police said on Thursday.

Troopers from Troop F in Westbrook responded to a report of a disturbance at a residence on East Pond Meadow Road at about 5:25 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, according to the state police release. During the first hours of the response, state police asked drivers to avoid the area of East Pond Meadow Road, one person was detained, and a LIFE STAR helicopter was requested, WTNH and FOX 61 reported.

What troopers found at the home

When troopers arrived, they located John Bongiovanni, 37, outside the residence, state police said. Inside the home, troopers found two people with apparent gunshot wounds. One of them was pronounced deceased at the scene. The second was transported to Hartford Hospital, where that person remains in critical condition.

State police have not identified either victim, and the release did not give their ages or say how they were related to Bongiovanni, if at all. The release also did not say where Bongiovanni lives. No photo of any victim has been released, and the victims are not named in this report because officials have not released their names.

Charges, bond and the first court date

As a result of the initial investigation, Bongiovanni was placed under arrest and charged with murder under Connecticut General Statutes section 53a-54a, and with criminal attempt to commit murder under sections 53a-49 and 53a-54a, state police said. He was held on a $3,000,000 cash or surety bond.

Bongiovanni was due to appear in GA-9 Middletown Superior Court on Thursday, October 29, at 9:00 a.m., according to the release. The charges are allegations. Bongiovanni is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

What police have not said yet

State police said the incident remains under further investigation. The Thursday morning release gave no motive, described no weapon beyond the gunshot wounds, and announced no other arrests. It also did not say when the victims will be identified.

For a shoreline town of Westbrook's size, a homicide investigation of this kind is rare, and the facts made public so far cover a single evening: a disturbance call at 5:25 p.m., an arrest outside the home, one person dead and one person fighting for life in Hartford. Everything beyond that now depends on the investigation and on what is said in court in Middletown.