A man who was shot by police and later died had to wait an additional ten minutes for an ambulance after an officer experiencing a "mild anxiety attack" commandeered the first emergency vehicle that arrived at the scene, according to a newly released state investigation in Connecticut.
Details of the Fatal Shooting in Bridgeport
Dyshan Best, a 39-year-old Black man, was shot in the back last year as he fled from officers in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The incident occurred on 31 March 2025, after a 911 call reported a brawl involving approximately thirty people, some of whom were armed. A report released this week by Connecticut's inspector general, Eliot Prescott, found that the shooting was justified because Best had a gun in his hand, and the pursuing officer had reasonable fear for his own safety.
Critical Ambulance Delay and Its Aftermath
However, the report raised serious concerns about the events following the shooting, which left Best bleeding with severe internal injuries. The first ambulance summoned to transport Best to the hospital arrived at 6:02 pm, about fourteen minutes after the shooting. At the urging of other officers, that ambulance was instead used to take away a white police officer, Erin Perrotta, who had been involved in the foot chase.
Paramedics noted that Perrotta declined treatment in the ambulance, stating, "I am fine, I just needed to get out of here." Another officer described Perrotta as "visibly hysterical (crying and breathing rapidly) and had blood all over her uniform" at the time. The second ambulance arrived at approximately 6:12 pm, and hospital records indicate Best was brought in for treatment at 6:22 pm—about fourteen minutes after Perrotta reached the hospital. He died at 7:41 pm while undergoing treatment for the gunshot wound, which damaged his liver and right kidney.
The inspector general's report did not conclude whether the delay in waiting for another ambulance contributed to Best's death. Nevertheless, the findings have sparked outrage and grief among Best's family and friends.
Family's Reaction and Calls for Justice
One of Best's nieces, Tatiana Barrett, told the Associated Press that the revelations from the report have angered and saddened the family, who believe he could have survived if taken to the hospital in the first ambulance. "Honestly it's heartbreaking hearing all these details," she said. "We were looking for justice. In our community, we don't know what justice looks like. We want justice for my uncle. We truly believe he was murdered."
Ongoing Investigations and Official Responses
A spokesperson for the Bridgeport police, Shawnna White, declined to comment on Wednesday when asked about Perrotta taking the first ambulance. She stated in an email that the police department's internal affairs division would conduct its own investigation. Perrotta is currently out on administrative leave due to an unrelated matter, which White did not disclose.
Phone and email messages were left on Wednesday for Perrotta, the Bridgeport mayor's office, Prescott's office, the city police union, and Darnell Crosland, a lawyer for Best's family, as the community seeks answers and accountability.
