FROM HPD: WIFE TRIES TO SHOOT HUSBAND DURING DOMESTIC INCIDENT

On December 15, 2016, at 6:36pm Hartford Police Department patrol officers responded to the area of Wethersfield Avenue at Elliot Street in response to a citizen report of a shooting incident. The citizen caller reported the incident

involved her daughter who had attempted to shoot her husband during an altercation. HPD Patrol

 officers responded to the incident location and located the victim (31yo male from Htfd)

 outside the Premium Grocery at 347 Wethersfield Avenue.  The victim stated that he had been

 approached by his estranged wife, Madeline Mercado, while outside the Premium Grocery while he

 was operating his Nissan Maxima. He told officers that she had approached him in his vehicle

 and began banging on the front passenger window with a firearm while he was parked outside the

 grocery. She then pointed the firearm at him and while in close proximity, shot at him once. He

 reported that she then fled the incident location on foot towards 25 Elliot Street. The listed 

vehicle was located on scene and observed to have a broken window, and a hole in the front

 passenger side door consistent with that of a gunshot. The victim was found to have suffered 

no injuries as a result of the incident and declined medical attention. The projectile appeared 

to have lodged within the passenger compartment of the vehicle and the vehicle was seized as 

evidence.

Detectives from the Hartford Shooting Task Force responded to the location to assist patrol

 officers in the ongoing investigation. Madeline Mercado was located at 25 Elliot Street and 

agreed to provide a statement to the investigators in relation to the incident. She claimed 

she had been involved in an altercation with her estranged husband at the location and was 

forced to discharge her firearm at him in self defense. Madeline Mercado was found to hold a

 valid CT pistol permit and freely turned over her registered firearm that was used during 

the incident, a Ruger LC9 9mm firearm containing five live 9mm rounds.

Both were then transported to HPD to conduct interviews with the STF Detectives in regards to 

the incident. In the course of the Detective's investigation, video surveillance footage was

 located by analysts in the HPD Crime Center. The video was not consistent with the details

 provided by Ms. Mercado. As a result of a thorough review of all recovered evidence and the 

interviews, HPD officers developed probable cause to charge Madeline Mercado in connection to

 the shooting.

Madeline Mercado was transported to HPD booking for processing procedures and charged with 

Criminal Attempt Assault 1st Degree, Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, Reckless Endangerment

1st Degree, Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree, and Breach of Peace 2nd Degree.