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State Police Identify Trooper Who Shot Suspect On Norwalk Highway

NORWALK, Conn. -- State police have released new information about a trooper's fatal shooting of an armed suspect on a tour bus on I-95 northbound in Norwalk late Tuesday night.

Police close off I-95 near Exit 14 in Norwalk after an incident on a tour bus led to the shooting of an armed suspect by state police. Video Credit: Rick Riordan

Photo Credit: Rick Riordan
A coach bus, far left, is stopped on I-95 north in Norwalk after a state trooper-involved shooting.

A coach bus, far left, is stopped on I-95 north in Norwalk after a state trooper-involved shooting.

Photo Credit: Rick Riordan

State Police released the name of the trooper who shot the suspect: Trooper First Class Marc O'Mara. One passenger was also injured in the shooting, and another was injured by the suspect, State Police said. Both were treated at Norwalk Hospital.

The suspect who was killed has not yet been identified, police said.

State Police started receiving several 911 calls at about 10 p.m. Saturday about a disturbance on a tour bus traveling north near Exit 14 in Norwalk, state police said. Troopers out on patrol were made aware of the situation, and the bus driver pulled into a construction zone being guarded by an on-duty trooper, later identified as O'Mara.

O'Mara approached the bus and encountered the suspect, who was armed with what they described as "a cutting instrument," police said. The suspect was engaged in a violent struggle with a bus passenger, and had tumbled out of the door of the stopped bus and onto the road.

The suspect became aggressive toward O'Mara, who was attempting to stop the violence, police said. The suspect refused orders to disarm and began advancing toward O'Mara in an aggressive manner, according to police. O'Mara then fired his gun, hitting the suspect and wounding the bus passenger, police said.

Emergency care was provided at the scene to the suspect and the wounded passenger, as well as another passenger who was injured by the suspect, police said.

All three were taken to Norwalk Hospital, where the suspect was pronounced dead. An autopsy will be conducted by the Office of the Chief State's Medical Examiner, police said.

That section of I-95 north was closed until about 5:30 a.m. while State Police processed evidence and interviewed witnesses.

O'Mara is a 10-year veteran of the Connecticut State Police assigned to Troop A in Southbury, State Police said. In compliance with department policy, he will be temporarily assigned to an administrative duty assignment pending the completion of the investigation, according to police.

The incident remains under investigation by the State Police.

In connection with the incident, an editor for The Hour was arrested at the Norwalk Fire Department on Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk police said. Members of the press were congregating in the parking lot of the fire station, where state police were stationed late Tuesday, police said. Officers used the P.A. system to tell members of the press to leave, but Jeffrey Dale, 27, a news editor for The Hour, refused to go, police said.

Norwalk police said they told Dale to leave three times before he started walking on Connecticut Avenue toward Cedar Street. Dale then came to the perimeter of the fire station and started yelling obscenities at the officers, causing a disturbance, police said.

Police then arrested Dale and charged him with breach of peace and interfering with an officer. While en route to Norwalk Police headquarters, police said Dale told them he was a reporter with The Hour and apologized. He was given a $250 bond and a court date of Oct. 31.

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