HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Hartford police said Saturday that they seized six firearms and arrested seven people on weapons charges as the city takes aim at escalating gun violence.
Lt. Paul Cicero said the seizures and arrests came Friday night. Officers also recovered two stolen cars.
Two people were arrested and a stolen handgun was found during a traffic stop. Another motor vehicle stop turned up a loaded revolver and PCP, resulting in the arrest of a convicted felon. Another traffic stop and a foot chase led to the arrest of another felon and seizure of a stolen handgun.
Police arrested another man for illegally possessing a gun while responding to the city’s gunshot detection system. And two men were arrested for illegally possessing two firearms and a 30-round ammunition magazine.
State police were recently called in to help respond to a significant increase in city shooting incidents. As of Oct. 17, there were 190 shootings this year, up 61% from the same period last year. There were more than 30 shootings over the past month, compared with seven during the same period last year.
Police said 20 people have been murdered this year, one less than the same period last year.
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