Ridgefield Shooting Victim Shot Multiple Times

With the investigation ongoing into the fatal shooting of a resident by a Ridgefield police officer, state police have released more information about the incident.

Lt. J. Paul Vance revealed the victim, John Valluzzo of Ridgefield, was shot numerous times. The office of the Chief State Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, which means one person killed another. He said the officer who shot Valluzzo was Officer Jorge Romero. Romero has worked in Ridgefield for seven years. The officer was responding Friday evening to a Ridgebury Road home on report of a domestic disturbance.

Vance also declined to say how many shots were fired, and by whom. Readers have left comments questioning whether Valluzzo might have been intoxicated at the time of the shooting. Vance said any evidence from blood analysis, such as if Valluzzo was intoxicated, won't be available for six to eight weeks.

The Connecticut State Police was called in to investigate the shooting by the Ridgefield Police Department and the state's Attorney's Office. The state police released the following description of the shooting. Ridgefield Police officers responded to the scene of a possible domestic incident at about 5 p.m. Friday at 423 Ridgebury Road in Ridgefield, where they confronted a man in the yard of the home. Police said the man was armed with a handgun.

Police told the man to disarm and put down his weapon. Police said the man refused to comply to the officer’s order. He raised the weapon toward the officer, which caused the Ridgefield officer to fire his service weapon striking the man.

Vance said Tuesday the police officer who used lethal force has been put on administrative duty, which is typical following an officer-involved shooting. Vance said the 911 call will not be available via a Freedom of Information Act request until the investigation is finished.
 
"It is a use of force investigation," Vance said. "We have to make sure the officer followed the letter of the law."