Report: Danbury Residents React After Shots Fired on Newtown Road

Residents throughout the Hat City have voiced concern after police say shots rang out in the area of Newtown Rd. on Saturday night (March 5).

Sunday morning, I was checking my Instagram when I noticed an uncharacteristic post from my friend Jack Drake.

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Jack is I95's meteorologist and a local with his ear to the ground. He'd posted the following on Saturday evening (3/5/22):

"30 Mins Ago: Major Incident - Danbury. SHOOTING at Chili's Parking lot on Exit 8. Unknown Injuries. Suspect fled in Gray Honda CRV towards Bethel. Search in Progress. Avoid the area."

Jack Drake - Insta

Jack obtained the information using a police scanner. A private Facebook group called "911 Danbury: "Keeping Our Community in the Know" shared more allegations related to the incident.

"Newtown Rd, 911 calls coming in like crazy for shots fired. Up to three shots. Chilis. Suspect still on scene

Person is wearing a red hoodie.

3 suspects wearing facemasks.

PD on scene. Troopers also on route. All available officers asked to respond.

Suspects fled in Grey CRV going up towards Stony Hill.

Bethel being notified

------- plates. If you seen them, do not engage. Call PD

Another grey CRV has been pulled over.

They have the name of the suspect.

Victim found. EMS en route. Don't know the extent of injuries.

Incident command being set up at Chilis. Anyone headed that way, don't bother.

Doesn’t look like anyone was actually shot. No victims transported to ER at least."

These reports from the public are now backed up by a press release from the Danbury Police Department who issued a press release on (3/5/22) that reads in part:

"On Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 7:01 P.M., Danbury police officers responded to the area of 81 Newtown Rd., Chilis Restaurant, on the report of a disturbance with gunshots fired. Officers responded to the area and found that a disturbance started in the restaurant among two groups of patrons. The disturbance moved outside, and a person involved in the fight pulled a gun and fired a couple of shots."

Police said no one was injured in the incident and state that several individuals fled the scene. This is an active and open investigation. Anyone with information on the matter is being asked to contact Det. Thomas Collins at (203) 797-4662, t.collins@danbury-ct.gov, or call the confidential tips line at (203) 790-TIPS (8477), or anyone with a cell phone may send an anonymous tip to the Danbury Police Department by texting DANBURYPD and their message/tip to 847411 (Tip411).

Amazing Pictures and Facts About I-95 (WRKI) and it's Broadcast Tower

Mark Weiss is a retired broadcast engineer, avid I-95 listener and a drone enthusiast. Recently, I published an article that featured drone photography and Mark messaged me and said, "that's nothing, you should see what I have."

I asked him to share what he had and he sent these stunning photos. He photographed the I-95 (WRKI) broadcast tower from above. Weiss shot the photos in 2018. He sent them to me and attached a note that read: "Flown by DJI Phantom 4 Pro 2.0."

Rather than just publish the photos, I wanted to add some accessory information. I spoke to a few current employees, a few former employees and dug through the oldest file cabinet we have to find out some things, even I didn't know. These are some amazing photos of our broadcast tower and some fun information about it's history and the history of I-95.