Danbury Police: Market Place Shots Fired

Danbury Police were called to the Market Place Restaurant, 33 Mill Plain Road, Sunday at about 7:45 p.m. on a report of shots fired. Police said the caller heard a gun go off and found a bullet on the floor. Police spoke to witnesses who described eating at their table and hearing a loud popping noise and then having debris fly onto their table. Police found a bullet hole near a booth and by figuring the trajectory, they determined the bullet came from an office within the restaurant. Police said they interviewed the owner, Elias Hawli, 29, of Danbury. Hawli initially denied discharging the firearm, but police realized he had placed a plaque up on the wall to conceal the bullet hole in the office. Hawli then admitted that the gun accidentally went off. Hawli was charged with interfering with a police officer. He was released on a Written Promise to Appear at Danbury Superior Court on July 18.