BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — The four people shot outside a Connecticut courthouse on Monday were targeted by their assailant, Bridgeport police Chief A.J. Perez said.

The victims were sitting in a car outside Bridgeport Superior Court on Golden Hill Street just after noon when someone in a passing SUV opened fire, police said.

Three passengers exited the vehicle and sought cover in the courthouse while the driver stayed in the vehicle and was also shot, authorities said.

Three people are in custody and police are looking into whether the shooting was connected to the homicide of an 18-year-old man on Sunday, Mayor Joe Ganim said.


One witness estimated hearing about 30 shots.

“One car just pulled up to another car and started firing. It was crazy. It was insane,” eyewitness Dave Simons told the Connecticut Post.

City officials were quick to point out that the shooting was not a random act of violence and there was not an active shooter on the loose.

All four victims were taken to the hospital with injuries not thought to be life threatening. No names, ages or genders were released.

“We don’t tolerate this,” Ganim said. “No homicide, no shooting, is something that’s going to go unanswered by the Bridgeport Police Department.”