Hartford police shooting deemed justified by inspector general

A Connecticut report has concluded that a police officer's use of deadly force was justified during a traffic stop in Hartford in October 2023. The report by the Office of the Inspector General states that the officer acted reasonably when a man aimed a gun at him. The incident occurred on October 16, 2023, when Officer Brian Sulliman was patrolling and tried to stop a gray Honda Accord. The car matched a description linked to a previous threatening incident. The driver of the vehicle later told investigators he was helping a man named Jamie Grant, whom he knew for seven years. They had gone to a car dealership together in Hartford. After an argument at the dealership, the driver felt embarrassed and left. About 15 to 20 minutes later, police stopped the vehicle. As the car stopped, Grant got out with a bag and faced the officer. The driver claimed he heard Officer Sulliman tell Grant to return to the car before shots were fired. Body camera footage showed that Grant pointed a firearm at Officer Sulliman. In response, Sulliman fired multiple shots as Grant tried to run away. Grant later fell to the ground, and police performed life-saving efforts until paramedics arrived. He was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly after. The report noted that a 9mm pistol was found near where Grant fell. Although he did not fire the weapon, the report indicated that he might have tried to shoot Officer Sulliman. Grant sustained three gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide by law enforcement. Inspector General Robert J. Devlin stated that Officer Sulliman acted to protect himself from what he believed was a serious threat. The investigation was conducted in collaboration with various police departments.