A violent home invasion in Bridgeport, Connecticut, left one man dead and two other people hospitalized, in an early-morning attack that has shaken a family in their own home. Police have charged a suspect with murder as investigators work to piece together what happened inside the house.
According to Bridgeport police, officers responding around five o'clock in the morning found 44-year-old Jamar Whittingham standing outside the home, holding a large kitchen knife. Officers used a Taser on him, and although he managed to pull the prongs off his body, he was then taken into custody at the scene.
Authorities say all three victims lived at the home, underscoring that the violence struck people in the place where they should have felt safest. The attack unfolded inside the residence before officers arrived and brought the suspect under control.
The toll was severe. A detective identified as Detective Holt said that one of the victims, 60-year-old Eric Johnson, was pronounced dead at Bridgeport Hospital. The loss of his life turned what might have been an assault case into a murder investigation.
The two other victims survived but were seriously hurt. Authorities said an 85-year-old woman and a 62-year-old man both underwent surgery in the morning, leaving an elderly member of the household among those fighting to recover from the attack.
Bridgeport police said Whittingham has been charged with murder, home invasion and first-degree assault on an elderly person. The combination of charges reflects both the death of one resident and the serious injuries inflicted on the others inside the home.
A family member who lives at the home, Harvey Nelson, described the terror of the morning, saying he heard it all unfold and nearly became a victim himself. He recounted coming outside during the attack and said he almost got stabbed too, as detectives spent the day going in and out of the home collecting evidence.