Four young men were arrested early Sunday morning after apparently driving around northern Weston and firing two shotguns and a BB gun at mailboxes.
The men—two 18-year-olds and two 19-year-olds—are all from Weston.
According to police, the department received numerous 911 calls around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30 from residents on Samuelson Road reporting gunshots being fired outside their homes. One of the callers told police those responsible for the shots were driving a Jeep.
Weston Police officers responded to Samuelson Road and discovered several mailboxes on that road had been shot with a shotgun. Officers then heard "multiple shotgun rounds being fired in rapid succession in the area," according to a press release.
At the same time, police said, the department received 911 calls from residents of Osborn Farm Road reporting gunshots in the area.
"Over the course a half hour, we received calls from many residents reporting gunshots in the area of Samuelson Road, Old Farm Road, Lords Highway, Godfrey Road East and Ravenwood Drive," the press release says. "While checking those areas, Weston Police found numerous shotgun shell casings in the roadway near the mailboxes that had been shot."
Officers eventually spotted a Jeep matching the description provided by the Samuelson Road resident on Lords Highway.
"The suspect vehicle shut its lights off and continued driving while being followed by Weston officers," the press release says.
Because there were firearms involved in the situation, police requested help from neighboring police departments.
"Weston Police officers continued to follow the vehicle and subsequently conducted a high-risk felony motor vehicle stop on Calvin Road," the release says. "Wilton Police arrived on scene shortly after and the suspects were removed from the vehicle."
A search of the vehicle revealed two loaded shotguns, boxes of shotgun shells and an BB gun that was a lookalike assault rifle, police said.
The names and charges of those arrested are as follows:
- Patrick McGlone, 18, of Joanne Lane, was charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree, conspiracy, unlawful discharge of a firearm, discharging a firearm from a public highway, criminal mischief in the second degree and breach of peace in the second degree.
- Ryan Gussen, 19, of High Acre Road, was also charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree, conspiracy, unlawful discharge of a firearm, discharging a firearm from a public highway, criminal mischief in the second degree and breach of peace in the second degree.
- Conor MaCabe, 18, of Godfrey Road East, was charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree, conspiracy, unlawful discharge of a firearm, discharging a firearm from a public highway, criminal mischief in the second degree, breach of peace in the second degree and forgery in the second degree.
- Carmine Magnoli, 19, of North Calvin Road, was charged with reckless endagerment in the first degree, conspiracy, unlawful discharge of a firearm, discharging a firearm from a public highway, criminal mischief in the second degree, breach of peace in the second degree, forgery in the second degree, failure to display a front license plate and carrying a loaded shotgun in a motor vehicle.
The four men are scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 9.
Police said alcohol—which was found in the vehicle—may have been a factor in the incident, and since the case is still under investigation, it remains to be seen whether more charges will be filed.
Carmine Magnoli, according to The Weston Forum, and Patrick McGlone, according to a press release from Senator Joe Lieberman, have connections to the military.
(Editor's note: This article originally said that alcohol was a factor in the incident. It has been updated to say that it might have been, as the case remains under investigation. Sergeant Mike Ferullo said he presented this incident to the police commission on Tuesday, Oct. 2 and told them that "no alcohol testing was done due to the serious nature of the motor vehicle stop and the charges.")
