13 people shot, wounded at Connecticut party

A shooting at a crowded house party has left 13 people wounded, and police in Connecticut are investigating what they said is an unusual outburst of violence in the state's largest city.

Bridgeport police believe two shooters opened fire on about 100 party-goers from behind some hedges surrounding the home's backyard. It happened around 1:30 AM (local time) yesterday. Responding officers discovered what authorities called a chaotic scene.

The party was so crowded that some people believed the gunshots were fireworks, Captain Brian Fitzgerald said at a news conference yesterday afternoon.

Police have stepped up patrols in the area and are gathering information from witnesses and from the victims. Police have not identified a motive and are investigating whether the suspects were party-goers, Fitzgerald said. "We are going to have an arrest in the very near future," Chief Armando J Perez said.

As of yesterday afternoon, all but five of the victims had been released from hospitals. Most of the victims were shot in



the legs. None of the injuries is considered life-threatening, but one woman was in critical condition with injuries to her face and jaw, according to authorities. Police said the victims ranged in age from about 18 to 24.

The people who threw the party have not been identified by police. They had requested a permit from police ahead of the gathering because they wanted to sell alcohol there, but the permit was denied, according to Perez.

Police believe they charged for alcohol anyway. They may face criminal charges, Fitzgerald said. Authorities are asking that anyone with information contact the Bridgeport police.

Last summer, one man was killed and eight people were injured when two men opened fire on a group of people in the parking lot of the Trumbull Gardens housing complex in the city's North End. Among the injured was a grandmother taking a shower in her nearby home. Two were arrested.

The Trumbull Gardens complex is located about 3 miles northwest of where yesterday's shooting took place.