Gwyneth K. Shaw Photo
Connecticut U.S. Marshal Joseph Faughnan, Lt. Julie Johnson, Sgt. Tony Reyes and Assistant Chief John Velleca.
Police have arrested a man who they say killed a man on Front Street — but aren’t charging him with murder.
The 33-year-old suspect, who was wounded in the Jan. 29 incident at the condo complex at 24 Front St., was arrested Friday morning on Quinnipiac Avenue, according to Lt. Julie Johnson, head of the Major Crimes Unit.
He’s been charged with criminal possession of a pistol or revolver, first-degree reckless endangerment and carrying a gun without a license.
Johnson said the suspect killed Marquis Sumler in self-defense after Sumler fired at him. That’s why he’s not charged in the killing.
The suspect has a criminal record, which prompted the gun charges, Johnson said. The warrant carried a court-set bail amount of $250,000, she said. He initially ran from the scene; police found him on Poplar Street.
Contributed Photo
The crime scene.
Witnesses were able to describe the scene and support the narrative that Sumler’s killing was in self-defense.
Police are still seeking the killer of the second victim, Michael Fernandez. They have suspects, Johnson said; the investigation is ongoing.
Sgt. Al Vazquez and Detective Carlos Maldonado cracked the case and obtained the warrant for the suspect, Johnson said. Officers Steve Manware and John Palmer, along with other members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force, made the arrest.
Police said after the shootings that Fernandez was running a drugs and prostitution operation out of the condo. But the fatal fight was actually about a dirt bike-style four-wheel all-terrain vehicle, according to investigators.
“Where’s my quad?” one man asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Fernandez replied.
Then the bullets started flying.
Fernandez had taken a downpayment for the quad from one of the shooters, then sold it to someone else through a Fair Haven auto repair shop. That’s what sparked the gun battle.
Even without the murder charge, Johnson said, the arrest is a victory for police if it gets another alleged crook off the street.
“Obviously, this was a pretty serious criminal,” she said of the suspect, adding that the arrest should bring “great closure” for the family of the victims.
Let me see if I have this right.
Sumler, a convicted felon (twice for a gun; info available on State of Ct Judicial Department website)was in possession of and pulled out a gun, again. The guy he pulled it on is a convicted criminal, who cannot legally possess a handgun, but was carrying one anyway. Witness(es) said that he pulled his gun in self-defense against Sumler, the quick-draw. Based on this, he is NOT charged with the killing of Sumler, but is charged with Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree. That charge would seem to say that the guy endangered the public by firing his illegal handgun at Sumler. So, he was justified in shooting Sumler, but was not justified in endangering others?
Without a murder or manslaughter charge, the gun charge will not be much of a sentence, if he is convicted. Sumler got 2 years for his first conviction, 3 for the second Info from the State website). He obviously was not rehabilitated, nor did he fear the Court System, by continuing to carry a handgun.
I predict that the NHPD will now attempt to alter the stats on 2011 Homicides by removing Sumler's death from the number of homicides for this year.