© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Hamden Police Recommend Firing Officer Involved In New Haven Shooting

Lori Mack
/
CT Public Radio
Hamden Mayor Curt Leng speaks at a news conference after the arrest of police officer Devin Eaton on Oct. 21.

Hamden acting police chief John Cappiello has recommended the firing of the officer charged with assault and reckless endangerment after he shot at an unarmed couple in New Haven.

The recommendation and charges stem from an incident on April 16 when 29-year-old Devin Eaton fired 13 shots at Stephanie Washington, 22, and Paul Witherspoon, 21. 

Eaton and a Yale University officer, who has not been charged, were investigating a report of an attempted armed robbery when they spotted the couple in a red Honda Civic in New Haven.

Authorities say shots were fired by both officers, striking Washington, a passenger, and missing Witherspoon, the driver. No weapons were found at the scene, and the couple was not charged.

Eaton remains on unpaid administrative leave.

Hamden police said departmental charges were issued against Eaton on Nov. 15 and served personally on him the next day. The charges were conveyed to the Board of Police Commissioners in a letter delivered Tuesday to  Chairman Michael Iezzi.

Lori Connecticut Public's Morning Edition host.

Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.

Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.