Last week, a tragic incident unfolded in Colchester, Connecticut, resulting in the death of 33-year-old Jared Michael Billard. According to a preliminary report released by Inspector General Robert Devlin Jr. of the Connecticut Office of Inspector General, Officer Kiruluss Wassef of the Colchester Police Department was forced to defend himself when Billard pointed a shotgun at officers.

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The incident occurred on Thursday evening at 759 Norwich Ave., following a report of a possible disturbance. Upon arrival, police officers John Zavalick, Bryan Kowalsky, and Wassef were informed by a second-floor tenant that Billard, their landlord, had been behaving erratically throughout the day. Witnesses stated that Billard had lit a grill on the common deck area, leaving it unattended, and had engaged in confrontational behavior with the tenant, even pushing them and displaying throwing knives.

The responding officers were informed that Billard was in the basement. Zavalick and Wassef proceeded to engage in a conversation with him behind a closed door. Body camera footage released by Devlin captured Zavalick removing what appeared to be a knife wedged partially into the door.

Billard, showing signs of hostility, told the officers to leave his property. However, due to the nature of the situation, the officers insisted on staying to investigate further. The tension escalated rapidly as Billard made explicit threats and continued to exhibit aggressive behavior.

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Moments before the fatal encounter, the sound of a weapon being loaded could be heard. Billard shouted expletives and demanded the officers leave immediately. He exclaimed, “Go, go, go now. Go (expletive) now (expletive)!”

Officer Wassef, exercising caution, repeatedly instructed Billard to remain in the room. But as tensions flared, Billard emerged from behind the door, pointing a long gun directly at Wassef. In response, Wassef fired one shot at Billard’s chest, an act of self-defense clearly visible in the body camera footage and confirmed by Devlin’s report.

Wassef momentarily retreated from the basement as one of the officers on the scene urgently reported “shots fired” over the radio. Concerned for the well-being of his colleague, Wassef checked on Zavalick, who confirmed that Billard had been incapacitated.

Prompt medical attention was provided to Billard before he was transferred to Backus Hospital in Norwich. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Billard’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the trunk, which resulted in a fatal injury to his lung. The medical examiner’s ruling classified his death as a homicide.

This incident demonstrates the challenging circumstances that law enforcement officers face daily in protecting the public. Officer Wassef’s response, which ultimately ended Billard’s life, was an act of self-defense necessitated by the threatening and aggressive behavior displayed. The body camera footage and preliminary report released by Inspector General Robert Devlin Jr. provide valuable insight into the event.

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