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11/22/2023 03:20 PMChief of Police Christopher Massey announced on Nov. 22 that a Guilford man had been arrested for two separate shootings directed at homes occurring approximately 10 months apart, the first shooting in 2022 and a second in October 2023.
According to police, Gregory McHugh, of Driftwood Lane, was arrested for the shooting in December 2022 at a residence on Fernwood Drive and for the second shooting on Oct. 24 at a home on New England Road across from Guilford High School (GHS). No injuries were reported in either incident, despite the findings that in both cases, McHugh allegedly discharged multiple rounds from a firearm into the homes.
“We know that both of these homes were occupied; however, we were fortunate that where the rounds struck, these homes were not in an area where someone was located within the residence. It was at nighttime, so we were fortunate that rounds did not hit bedrooms and areas like that,” said Massey.
According to Massey, Guilford Police officers and detectives led an extensive investigation to make the case against the suspect. Massey praised the detectives on the case for their diligence in obtaining the evidence needed to bring charges, as well as the agencies involved.
“An extremely detailed and labor-intensive investigation took place, spearheaded by our detective unit,” said Massey. “Their investigation was assisted by the Connecticut Forensic Laboratory, the New Haven States Attorneys Office, and also FBI New Haven. Our department will continue investigating these incidents to support a successful prosecution by the New Haven State's Attorney's Office.”
McHugh was charged in the first incident on Fernwood Road with reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal mischief in the first degree, and unlawful discharge of a firearm. In the most recent incident on New England Road, McHugh was charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal mischief in the first degree, unlawful discharge of a firearm, negligent storage of a firearm, and possession of a weapon on school grounds.
The possession on school grounds charge stems from the allegation that McHugh fired a legally purchased Glock 9mm from the GHS parking lot during the second incident on New England Road. The suspect is currently being held in New Haven on a $250,000 bond and is awaiting arraignment, according to Massey.
According to the arrest report, four 9mm shell casings were recovered in the upper west student parking lot of GHS after the October 2023 incident, a total of six shots were fired during the Fernwood Road incident, according to the report. Home security video camera footage and cell records were also utilized to investigate the crimes and effect the arrest, Massey said.
“An extensive review of cellular data revealed he (McHugh) was also in the area of both crime scenes when these incidents took place,” said Massey.
Detectives were also able to determine that McHugh had been previously arrested for a tire-slashing incident at the same New England Road address back in 2017 and damage to mailboxes that Massey said had “been attributed to this individual.” According to the arrest report, McHugh was a suspect in as many as three other vandalism incidents that took place in 2017 in Guilford that all had a connection with a specific social circle of friends from the GHS class of 2003, and McHugh was arrested for at least one of those crimes.
According to Massey, there is no clear motive in the crime, but he did say that “a list of names” was found at McHugh’s residence that appeared to indicate that two classmates of McHugh’s from GHS had previously lived at the residences that were fired upon. That list, according to the arrest report, had more than 100 names on it, all female.
“Additionally, a written list was seized during the search (of McHugh’s residence) that included the name of two of our victims’ (children) who graduated from Guilford High School with Mr. McHugh, along with numerous other names. We have yet to determine the connection between this list and these shooting incidents, if any,” said Massey. “The detective unit is continuing to actively investigate any relation. At this time, the true motive behind these shootings is still in question; however, we have drawn a connection between the two residences targeted as being the former homes of Mr. McHugh’s classmates from Guilford High School class of 2003. This is a consistent pattern with prior criminal mischief incidents perpetuated by Mr. McHugh back in 2017. We believe there is a connection, but I don’t want to speculate further than that at this time.”
According to Massey, detectives began establishing a connection with the cases when the Division of Scientific Services at the State of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory matched the casing from the two incidents. That ballistic data, combined with the evidence uncovered during the investigation, revealed a history of vandalism and crimes allegedly committed by McHugh.
I want to thank the Detective Unit, Dectective Sargeant, Joseph Duro, Detective Amy Peckham, and Detective Anthony Martone for bringing this investigation to the point of making an arrest. Your diligence and tireless efforts...undoubtedly;y saved lives,“ Massey said.