Dramatic video shows Hamden robber shooting at cop. New Haven man sentenced to 20 years in prison for 2018 episode.
A New Haven man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday for firing a gun six times at a police officer who interrupted his 2018 Hamden convenience store robbery, New Haven’s top prosecutor said.
The 20-year-sentence of Kwaun Cole, 34, will be followed by five years of special parole, State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin said. Cole decided on June 3, during jury selection in Superior Court in New Haven, not to go to trial and pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault, first-degree robbery and criminal possession of a firearm.
Judge Gerald L. Harmon’s lengthy sentence reflects the serious nature of the crime and the danger Cole posed to the community, Griffin said. The prosecutor praised the bravery and restraint of Officer Andrew Pfeiffer, who was not injured.
Cole’s hand was injured and he was shot in his torso, said Griffin, who released body camera and surveillance videos of Pfeiffer dodging bullets and returning fire during the Jan. 24, 2018 holdup.
Cole’s lawyer, Paul V. Carty, could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning.
According to Griffin, about 9:10 p.m. that night, Pfeiffer was flagged down in the parking lot of Krauszer’s Food Stores, 1959 State St., by someone who had seen the robbery. An armed, masked man had accosted the store clerk and a shopper, stealing money from the cash register and a cellphone from the customer.
His gun drawn, Pfeiffer walked into the store and confronted the robber, yelling at him to put his hands up. The robber, later identified as Cole, responded by ducking down behind shelves, pointing a gun and firing a shot at the officer, Griffin said.
Pfeiffer backed off and sought cover while Cole appeared at the front door and continued to shoot, at one point going outside to fire, the prosecutor said. Surveillance video shows a frenzied Cole back inside the store, alternately backing up and moving toward the door as he apparently tried to avoid Pfeiffer’s return fire.
Cole then went out a side door and ran toward Pfeiffer, but when the officer fired, he fled along the side of the building and disappeared, Griffin said. The wounded robber was later found hiding under a car in a nearby driveway.
Cole was treated at Yale New Haven Hospital and released, he said.
Christine Dempsey may be reached at cdempsey@courant.com.
