Man in custody after woman shot in sternum in East Hartford

EAST HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – A man is in custody following a shooting that happened in East Hartford Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities said it was reported in the area of 79 Lafayette Ave.

Police identified the suspect as Luis Toro-Vargas and said he shot a woman in the sternum during a domestic violence incident.

Two juveniles were in the home at the time, police revealed.

The residential area was quickly flooded with cops, neighbors told Channel 3.

Police said they made contact with Toro-Vargas over the phone and negotiated with him to come out of the home.

“I saw the neighbor come outside, toss his gun on the front lawn and drop to his knees, said he was done and then he got tackled by a whole bunch of officers. It’s crazy. Something you see in a movie,” said Eric Brown, an eyewitness.

Channel 3′s cameras recorded a gun on the front lawn. Police confirmed that they recovered it.

Neighbors said the people who live in the house were new to the area.

“I was sitting on the couch and I heard police [say] ‘come out with your hands up. We have you surrounded.’ We looked out the window and they were at that house and they had an AR-15. Police cruisers and more were coming and they said it again,” said Arleen Peronto, another eyewitness.

The woman was said to be in stable condition and alert.

There were no other injuries.

“It was just a lot. Like a bit shaken, you don’t ever expect things like that to happen,” said eyewitness Megan Brown.

East Hartford police said the incident was isolated and there was no danger to the public.

Toro-Vargas was charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, risk of injury to a minor, first-degree threatening and third-degree criminal mischief.

His bond was set at $1 million.

This story is developing. Stay with Eyewitness News for updates.

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