Three people have been charged and a fourth arrest is expected in connection with an armed home invasion in Fairfield that shut down multiple schools and prompted a large police presence on Thursday.
The three suspects already facing charges were identified Friday as 25-year-old Kaleem Uthmaan of Hamden, 21-year-old Naszar Hobby of New Haven and 25-year-old Juan Felix of Monroe, according to Sgt. Jenna Wellington of the Fairfield Police Department.
Wellington said each man has been charged with home invasion, first-degree robbery with a deadly weapon, five counts of unlawful restraint and two counts of risk of injury to a minor. They were each held in lieu of a $3 million bond and were expected to be arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court on Friday, Wellington said.
Juan Felix. (Fairfield Police Department)
The suspects face charges in connection with a home invasion and armed robbery reported on Candlewood Road just before 2:30 a.m. Responding officers took one person into custody at the home after he attempted to flee and ensured that the victims were safe, according to police. Multiple victims were in the home but were not injured, police said.
A large police presence responded to the area as authorities believed two of the suspects may have still been in the home, police said. An alert sent out to residents in the area asked them to shelter in place, while nearby McKinley Elementary School, Fairfield Warde High School and the Early Childhood Center did not open because of the investigation.
Naszar Hobby. (Fairfield Police Department)
The police response included a slew of officers, detectives and the regional SWAT team. Authorities used drones to monitor the area and search for the suspects, who were believed to be wearing masks, hooded sweatshirts and dark clothing during the robbery, police said.
Police at one point zeroed in on Black Rock Turnpike after a report indicated two individuals were seen walking in the area. By about 9 a.m., an alert sent out to residents notified them that the shelter-in-place advisory had been lifted, as “all” suspects were in custody.
Wellington said two suspects were apprehended after fleeing Fairfield. One of them was taken into custody on the Merritt Parkway in Stratford and the other was apprehended in Hamden, she said. According to Wellington, a fourth individual was detained and identified as a person of interest. Police expect to arrest the individual as they continue to investigate, she said.
According to Wellington, multiple firearms were recovered during the investigation.
“This was not a random act, this was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to public safety,” Wellington said in a statement.
As police continue to investigate, they are asking residents and business owners in the area of Black Rock Turnpike and Candlewood Road to review any surveillance cameras they may have. Any “suspicious activity” that is discovered in the footage can be reported to detectives at 203-254-4840, police said.
