Police take man into custody in shooting near tavern
COVENTRY, Conn. --A man splattered in blood told co-workers at a local tavern that he shot his pregnant girlfriend at their nearby apartment Monday, frightening employees and patrons as he tried to enter the bar holding one of his children and a gun, a restaurant worker said.
The man was out in the parking lot of the Bidwell Tavern when police arrived and threatened to shoot himself. Authorities tried to get the man to release the child. Police said during the negotiations, they learned he had shot and injured the woman. The man was eventually subdued with a TASER and the child was taken to a local hospital for evaluation but appeared to be unharmed, police said.
The employee at the Bidwell Tavern on Route 31, who didn't want to give her name, said the shooter was a dishwasher there. She said the worker known as "Junior" wanted to use the tavern's phone and told people he had just shot the woman in front of their two children.
"He said he killed Amanda," the employee told The Associated Press in a phone interview.
The staff locked the door and several gunshots were heard outside.
The worker said the couple's other child, a 5- or 6-year-old boy was unharmed.
Police have not released the suspects name and said charges are pending. The woman was airlifted to Hartford Hospital. Her name and condition have not been released.
The situation drew police from Willimantic, the University of Connecticut as well as the state police SWAT team.
Police said the series of events began shortly before 6 p.m. at the apartment next to the popular tavern.
Workers could be heard telling everyone to go downstairs before police apprehended the man during a phone call made by The Associated Press. Someone at the restaurant picked up the phone and left the receiver off the hook for several minutes before hanging up. 