Man Surprises Intruder, Fires Gunshot

By GARY LIBOW And DWIGHT F. BLINT
The Hartford Courant
December 03, 1999

KILLINGWORTH - A man who returned home late Thursday afternoon
and found an intruder in his yard fired at least one gunshot that may
have wounded the would-be thief.

A River Road homeowner told state police he found the intruder outside
his house around 4:45 p.m., state police Lt. Carl Schultz said. The
intruder, who may have been struck in the left leg by a gunshot, fled in a
gray 1994 Ford Escort.

Police would not divulge the identity of the male homeowner, but real
estate records show the residence at 189 River Road was purchased
by Frank A. Herrmann and Janice Ferretti last July. State records also
show that Herrmann, 45, has a gun permit.

A woman answering the phone at the home late Thursday declined to
comment and said Herrmann was not available.

Police, who summoned the Central District Major Crime Squad, spent
at least four hours examining the scene and interviewing the
homeowner.

Schultz said investigators do not believe the intruder took anything or
actually entered the home.

State and local police departments were looking for a bearded white
male, reportedly armed with a handgun. Police said the Escort may
have been driven by a woman.

Police described the intruder as between 20 and 30, around 6 feet tall
and about 175 pounds. He was wearing a blue mechanic-type jacket,
green pants, a gray shirt and black shoes.

A police bulletin indicated the intruder fit the description of a man who
robbed a Middletown pharmacy last Friday night.

The home is in a quiet, affluent neighborhood, close to the Clinton
border and near the intersection of routes 80 and 81 in Killingworth.

But break-ins are not necessarily rare. Last March, town officials and
state police convened an unusual meeting with town residents
concerned over a rash of burglaries throughout town.