Man shot while stealing police SUV in Bristol sentenced in series of carjackings, attempted thefts
A man who was shot by a Bristol police officer in 2023 has been sentenced to more than six years in prison after pleading guilty to charges tied to a series of incidents in which police said he carjacked two people in different towns, tried stealing multiple other vehicles and took a police cruiser in Bristol where he later crashed it into a diner.
Jimmie Shoemaker-Gonzalez, 42, faced sentencing on Tuesday in Hartford Superior Court where he received a term of six years and nine months in prison followed by a multi-year period of probation, according to state Judicial Branch records.
The sentencing came after he pleaded guilty to charges filed by the Hartford, Bristol and Farmington Police Departments, according to court records. He pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree larceny, second-degree robbery with a dangerous instrument or weapon, first-degree robbery with a dangerous instrument, attempted first-degree robbery, second-degree assault with a weapon and attempt to commit third-degree larceny, records show.
According to a report filed by Connecticut Inspector General Robert Devlin, Jr. — who investigated whether Officer Seth Petzing was justified when he shot Shoemaker-Gonzalez — the series of incidents began unfolding just before 9:20 a.m. on Jan. 12, 2023, in Hartford where Shoemaker-Gonzalez stole a 2004 Dodge Durango after the owner parked in front of a convenience store on Park Street. He reportedly grabbed the man in the driver's seat and swung a knife at him during a struggle, leaving the man with a cut to his forehead that needed four stitches, the report said.
Shoemaker-Gonzalez reportedly made off with the vehicle after the man ran into the store and had someone call 911, Devlin's report said. He struck a state Department of Transportation snow plow later in the morning on Scott Swamp Road in Farmington, sending the Durango out of control and into a fence and a rock wall, according to the report.
Shoemaker-Gonzalez abandoned the vehicle at the Westwood II condo complex, where he later tried to steal a vehicle that had been started using a remote starter, according to Devlin. While still armed with a knife, he then banged on the window of a Nissan Rogue with two people inside while it was in the condo complex parking lot. The driver took off after Shoemaker-Gonzalez pulled on the door handle, the report said.
Immediately after trying to steal the Nissan, he reportedly approached a man in the lot and tried to stab his neck, according to the report. The man was initially able to block the knife, though his arm was cut during a struggle. The man said he threw his keys and ran into his residence after Shoemaker-Gonzalez demanded the keys.
According to Devlin's report, Shoemaker-Gonzalez stole the man's Toyota RAV4 and headed toward Bristol where police were told to be on the lookout around 12:20 p.m. for a vehicle taken during a carjacking involving a suspect armed with a knife. The vehicle was later spotted on Davis Drive, where a police sergeant parked behind it and approached the Toyota on foot with his gun drawn. According to Devlin's report, Shoemaker-Gonzalez reportedly reversed into the cruiser and drove forward, striking a guardrail before speeding away and hitting a dumpster. The vehicle ended up in a ravine and was abandoned.
Multiple police began searching the area for Shoemaker-Gonzalez at which point he got into one of their cruisers, Devlin's report said. When Petzing arrived at the scene, he positioned himself where he thought he would be out of the cruiser's path if Shoemaker-Gonzalez tried to flee, according to the report.
Petzing drew his gun and pointed it at Shoemaker-Gonzalez as other officers shouted for him to get out of the cruiser. As Shoemaker-Gonzalez began to speed off, Petzing told investigators he believed he would be struck and killed so he fired four rounds, the report said. According to Devlin's report, Shoemaker-Gonzalez was momentarily headed in the direction of Petzing before he turned away and avoided a collision. He then took off and narrowly missed a school bus on Quaker Lane before striking a building on Davis Drive, the report said.
The cruiser was pursued by police before Shoemaker-Gonzalez crashed into Palma's Diner at 100 Stafford Ave. No injuries in the diner were reported.
Shoemaker-Gonzalez was taken to Hartford Hospital and treated for four gunshot wounds, including two in his thigh and two in his lower left leg, the report said. An analysis of a blood sample taken reportedly showed his blood alcohol content was 0.102 and that he had a cocaine metabolite, Oxycodone and PCP in his system, according to the report.
Devlin's investigation into the shooting concluded that there was 'insufficient evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt' that Petzing's decision was 'not justified.' Devlin noted that he believed Petzing's statement indicating he thought he was going to be struck by the cruiser when he fired.
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