Police Still Searching for Center Street Shooter

The Manchester Police Department is still searching for suspects in what it is now calling an attempted robbery and Tuesday evening at Westside Auto Sales on Center Street.

Police issued an active warrant for the arrest of Julio Gonzalez in conjunction with the incident Wednesday. Gonzalez, 30, is wanted on charges of attempted first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a pistol or revolver, unlawful discharge of a firearm, second-degree reckless endangerment and threatening.

According to police, three men went to Westside Auto Sales at 634 Center St. Tuesday at approximately 5:30 p.m. to speak with the shop owner about a vehicle that one had purchased from the storeowner with about a $3,000 lien on it because of unpaid parking tickets. Police said one of the three men pulled a gun and shot off a round into the floor before shooting the Westside Auto owner in the knee. The three men then fled the scene.

The shop owner was taken to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford for treatment for a non-life threatening injury.

Police arrested Angel Soto, 32, of Vernon Ave. Apt. 205, Hartford, in conjunction with the shooting Wednesday and charged him with being an accessory to first-degree robbery, an accessory to first-degree assault and interfering with a police officer. Manchester Police Lt. Chris Davis said that Soto was neither the shooter nor the vehicle owner.

Gonzalez is believed to be armed and should be considered dangerous and may be in the Hartford area. Manchester Police ask anyone with information on Gonzalez to call 860-645-5500.