On 04/09/2024, at approximately 6:36 am., Troopers assigned to Troop A – Southbury responded to the I-84 Exit 23 commuter parking lot in Waterbury for a report of an incident involving a male who brandished a firearm.
Upon arrival, Troopers met with two complainants who explained that a male brandished a firearm in the commuter lot after a road rage-type incident.
The initial complainant explained that they had been at the commuter parking lot awaiting the arrival of the second complainant when they observed the second complainant’s pickup truck enter the commuter lot. According to both complainants, a black Mercedes E550, bearing a Connecticut registration plate, drove into the lot immediately behind the second complainant’s truck. A male then exited the Mercedes and began yelling at the second complainant that they had passed his companion’s vehicle in an unsafe manner and almost caused a collision.
The second complainant, who had been operating a pickup truck, explained that before entering the commuter lot, the Mercedes E550 had cut their vehicle off in Union Avenue and Hamilton Avenue, forcing the complainant to stop to avoid a collision. The second complainant further explained that the male operator of the Mercedes began yelling and gesturing for the complainant to drive into the commuter lot.
Both complainants explained that during their interactions, the male continued to yell and pulled a silver handgun out of his coat pocket, pointing it toward the ground, causing the complainants to fear for their safety. The complainants informed the male that they were contacting the police, and the male then put the handgun back into his pocket, reentered the Mercedes, and drove out of the parking lot.
One of the two complainants captured photos of the accused male, the Mercedes E550, and its Connecticut registration plate. The photos were provided to investigating Troopers. These images assisted Troopers in identifying the accused male as the registered owner of the Mercedes, Gentjan Korcari, DOB: 12/04/1977, of Southington.
Troopers attempted to make contact with Korcari in Waterbury but were unable to locate him. Upon speaking with Korcari by phone a short time later, he agreed to meet with Troopers at the I-84 Exit 26 commuter lot in Cheshire.
Korcari arrived at the commuter lot driving a white Chevrolet pickup truck. Korcari explained to Troopers that he and a companion were traveling in separate vehicles on Hamilton Avenue and both vehicles were in the center lane. According to Korcari, a pickup truck was in the left lane to turn left, but when the traffic signal turned green, the pickup truck drove straight ahead instead of turning left, nearly striking his companion’s car, and allegedly striking his Mercedes E550. Korcari further explained that he then told the driver of the truck to pull into commuter parking lot. When they arrived in the lot, Korcari alleged that several individuals approached his car and one was yelling at him. Korcari explained that he felt threatened and pulled his handgun from his jacket pocket to display it but did not completely remove it from his pocket. Korcari described his handgun as silver in color. During the investigation, it was determined that Korcari no longer had the firearm on his person or inside of his vehicle, but had brought it to his residence after the incident at the commuter lot.
Based on the information obtained during the investigation and Korcari’s acknowledgment that he had displayed a firearm, Korcari was placed under arrest.
Korcari was subsequently transported to Troop A, where he was processed without incident and charged with the following violations:
C.G.S. 53a-61aa(a)(3, Threatening in the First Degree with a Firearm
C.G.S. 53a-181, Breach of Peace in the Second Degree.
The firearm displayed in this incident was seized as evidence.
Korcari was released on a $40,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled for arraignment at Waterbury Superior Court on 04/24/2024