Investigation continues in fatal shooting of Monroe man

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BRIDGEPORT — Police would not comment Tuesday on whether the fatal shooting of a Monroe man on Sunday was connected to a pending sexual assault case.

“We are following leads and trying to track down the shooter,” said Police Capt. Brian Fitzgerald.

A man identified by police as Jose Perez-Ortiz, 41, of Maplewood Drive, Monroe, was shot outside a variety store on Shelton Street. Court documents in his assault case identify him as Jose Perez.

Police said Perez-Ortiz was shot following a dispute outside the store in which he is shown on video apparently attempting to stab another man.

Perez-Ortiz, a truck driver, had been free on $25,000 bond on charges he sexually assaulted his children’s’ teenaged babysitter. He was charged in December 2017 with third-degree sexual assault, fourth-degree sexual assault and public indecency.

He was scheduled to be in court on Sept. 12 when he was going to decide whether to accept a plea deal, according to court documents. His lawyer did not return calls for comment.

Police said a 17-year-old girl was admitted to Bridgeport Hospital after drinking bleach. While being interviewed at the hospital, police said, the girl complained that she had been sexually assaulted by a man she identified as Perez and said she had tried to commit suicide because of her fear of him.

Police said the teen later told them Perez had been driving her home after she had been babysitting his children when he pulled into a dark parking lot and raped her in his car.

The girl said Perez then drove her home. Police said Perez later called the girl four times to ensure she would not tell anyone what happened.