Search continues for Waterbury man fired on by Naugatuck police

Authorities continued to search Wednesday for the Waterbury man fired on by Naugatuck police officers Monday night during a traffic stop.

State police, who are heading the investigation into the shooting, said that there were no updates on the search as it stretched into another day.

Meanwhile, authorities remain unsure if Roznovsky Machado, 24, was hurt when Sgt. Nicholas Kehoss fired on him as Machado’s orange Dodge Charger drove toward the sergeant.

Machado fled the scene in the car and has not been spotted since the failed traffic stop on a Route 8 on-ramp near Maple Street.

Naugatuck police said Machado is wanted on at least seven charges including assault on a police officer and engaging police in a pursuit.

Though Machado remains at-large, Waterbury police found the Dodge Charger with Ohio plates that he was driving the night of the shooting. It is unclear if evidence in the vehicle pointed to whether Machado was injured.

State police have yet to say how many shots Kehoss, a 10-year department veteran fired, but officials said he was placed on administrative leave. Another officer, Kevin Zainc, was at the traffic stop, but did not fire his weapon.

Both officers were wearing department-issued body cameras. State police said the footage from the incident would be released, but have not provided a timeline for the disclosure. Under a law enacted in 2019, authorities have 96 hours to release the body camera footage.

Western District Major Crimes Squad detectives have been assigned to the investigation and Fairfield State’s Attorney Joseph T. Corradino will review whether the use of the deadly force was justified under state law.

Nicholas Rondinone can be reached at nrondinone@courant.com.

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