Man, 20, Fires Gun From Car, Flees Scene: Guilford Police

Crime & Safety

Man, 20, Fires Gun From Car, Flees Scene: Guilford Police "There is no place for gun crime in Guilford..." police said, adding they will continue to work to make Guilford safe from "gun violence."

GUILFORD, CT — A 20-year-old is accused of firing a gun from a car and then fleeing the scene, police said.

At 11:43 p.m. on Oct. 16, the Guilford Police Department received a 911 call regarding someone shooting a firearm from a vehicle and fleeing northbound on Whitfield Street from the area of the town docks, police said.

As officers responded, they were stopped by an additional complainant who reported the same information, police added. Officers and detectives began investigating and were able to identify a person of interest with witness statements and surveillance footage, police said.

Police said Russell Thomas Ballard, 20, had displayed a loaded firearm with an extended magazine, pointed the loaded gun at victims in another vehicle, one of which was a juvenile, and unlawfully discharged the weapon prior to driving off at a high rate of speed, police said in a news release.

Police obtained an arrest warrant for Ballard, and a search warrant for his vehicle and residence in Guilford.

On Friday, Guilford Police Detectives arrested Ballard when he arrived for his appointment at New Haven Adult Probation, police said.

Guilford Police Detectives and Connecticut State Police searched Ballard, his vehicle, and his home in Guilford, locating the described weapon with loaded extended magazine used in the original incident, police said.

They also located additional drugs, drug paraphernalia, an additional fully loaded extended magazine with 30+ rounds, additional ammunition, and a machine gun conversion device, also known as a Glock switch, which if installed, would make the handgun fully automatic, police said.

He is charged with criminal possession of a firearm, weapons in a motor vehicle, unlawful discharge of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree threatening, and second-degree breach of peace. Ballard was held on a court set $500,000 bond.

After the search warrants were served, Ballard was additionally charged with criminal possession of a firearm/defense weapon, possession with intent to sell hallucinogens, possession of a controlled substance second-offense, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of illegal possession of large capacity magazine, and negligent storage of a firearm. Ballard was held on a $250,000 bond.

"We would like to thank the New Haven State's Attorney's Office, New Haven Adult Probation and the Connecticut State Police for their assistance in this investigation," Guilford police said in a prepared statement. "There is no place for gun crime in Guilford and we will always work diligently to keep the Guilford Community safe from gun violence. If you have information you would like to report regarding this case or others, you can contact the Guilford Police Department at 203-453-8061 or the anonymous tip line at 203-453-8240."