East Haven lieutenant’s use of force in shooting along Interstate 95 in Milford justified

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The Office of Inspector General ruled that an East Haven Police lieutenant’s use of deadly force in a shooting along Interstate 95 in Milford was justified.

On Jan. 5, 2023, shortly before 9 a.m., members of the East Haven Police Department attempted to arrest Nicholas Gambardella, who was 27 at the time, for outstanding warrants. Police learned that Gambardella was in possession of a gun.

According to the initial report, officers used their police cruisers to block Gambardella’s’ car, which had stopped in a Burger King parking lot in Branford. Gambardella then fled the scene, crashed into two police cruisers, and drove onto I-95 southbound.

Investigators said at exit 36 in Milford, Gambardella drove off I-95 and crashed his car at the end of the exit ramp before running away from officers. Gambardella ran across both the southbound and northbound sides of the highway.

East Haven Police Lt. Joseph Fionia and Lt. Kevin Klarman chased Gambardella across the highway, and then Gambardella climbed a grass median. The inspector general’s report said Finoia yelled for him to get on the ground and threatened to shoot him. Gambardella then slowed, turned to the officers and reached into his waistband. He raised his hands and extended his arms in front of his chest as if he were pointing something at officers.

Finoia fired his weapon three times at Gambardella, but none of the shots struck him. He was then taken into custody on the side of the highway.

“The investigation establishes that at the time that Lt. Finoia discharged his firearm,
Gambardella presented himself in a manner consistent with his imminent use of deadly force and Finoia reacted reasonably in attempting to eliminate the threat,” Inspector General Robert Devlin Jr. wrote in his report. “Accordingly, I conclude that under the circumstances presented, Finoia’s’ use of deadly force was justified.”

According to the report, no weapon was found on or near Gambardella.

Online court records show Gambardella is currently serving time for unrelated charges.