A Connecticut man has pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the shooting of a New Haven police officer at the scene of a crash in 2022, as well as threatening a New Haven woman with a firearm.
Jose Claudio, 38, of New Haven, pleaded guilty on Sept. 9 to charges of attempted murder, assault on a public safety officer, two counts of criminal possession of a firearm and first-degree threatening, according to a release from New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr.
Court records show Claudio threatened a woman with a firearm in the Fair Haven section of New Haven on Sept. 14, 2022.
On Oct. 7, 2022, Officer Chad Curry of the New Haven Police Department responded to the scene of a car crash at Chapel Street and Blatchley Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Curry saw a black Honda Accord Crosstour — which had been reported stolen over the summer — that had crashed into a tree, according to court records.
Investigators later learned that the vehicle left the road on Chapel Street, struck a tree and a telephone pole then hit two more trees as well as a vehicle parked in the street, court records show.
Curry saw a man, later identified as Claudio, going in and out of the car. When Claudio saw Curry, he fled west on Chapel Street heading toward Blatchley Avenue, according to court records.
Curry turned his patrol vehicle around and followed Claudio. At one point, Curry called out to Claudio at the intersection, at which point Claudio turned around and fired multiple shots, striking the front windshield and other parts of the police cruiser six times, court records show.
Curry exited his police cruiser and returned fire. Claudio ran across the intersection, took cover behind a van and continued firing at Curry, according to court records. Two of the bullets hit Curry, one striking his right shoulder and the other grazing his ear. When Curry realized he had been shot, he returned to his patrol vehicle for cover and radioed for help. Claudio then ran north on Blatchley Avenue firing more shots in Curry’s direction, court records show.
Inspector General: New Haven officer shot twice by suspect in 2022 ‘justified’ in returning fire
After the incident, Curry was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, where a doctor said the gunshot wound to his shoulder was serious but not life-threatening, according to court records. The wound to his ear was described as superficial. Curry has since returned to duty, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said.
An arrest warrant was issued for Claudio on Oct. 7, 2022. Authorities learned through cooperating witnesses that Claudio had gone to a Hartford apartment after the shooting, according to court records. About eight hours after the incident, investigators were able to ping a phone number associated with Claudio and found that he was within several hundred meters of the apartment, court records show.
Claudio was apprehended by the New Haven Police Department and the Hartford Police Department. During a search of the residence, investigators reportedly found a Taurus G3C 9mm semiautomatic that a ballistic examination later found was used during the shooting, according to court records. They also reportedly found cash, ammunition, a firearm suppressor, a black Keltec Sub2000 .40 caliber folding carbine and a large quantity of suspected marijuana, court records show.
As a previously convicted felon, Claudio is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The Connecticut Office of Inspector General investigated the incident. In December 2023, Inspector General Robert J. Devlin, Jr., determined that Curry was justified in his use of deadly force.
The report determined that, of the 26 bullet casings recovered at the scene, Claudio fired 10 rounds at Curry and Curry fired 16 rounds back, Devlin wrote.
“Such use of force was objectively reasonable and justified under Connecticut law,” Devlin wrote in his report. “Claudio was clearly armed with a deadly weapon, there was no opportunity to engage in de-escalation measures, and Officer Curry did nothing to precipitate the confrontation.”
Claudio’s sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 4 in New Haven Superior Court.
“State’s Attorney Doyle credits the New Haven Police Department, the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad and the Office of Inspector General for their thorough investigation of this incident,” the DCJ said in a release on Thursday. “The Hartford Police Department and the Hartford Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office are credited for their assistance in apprehending the defendant. The New Haven Police Department is further credited for their cooperation and professionalism during the pendency of this investigation and prosecution.”
Information from Courant reporter Justin Muszynski was used in this report.
