Suspect Stabs Female Officer in the Neck, Gets Shot Twice, IG Rules it Justified [WATCH]

Connecticut’s inspector general has determined that a Bridgeport police officer was legally justified in shooting a man who stabbed a fellow officer during a late-night response to a call involving an emotionally disturbed individual in October 2024.

In a report issued Tuesday, State Inspector General Eliot Prescott concluded that Bridgeport Police Officer Jesse Jimenez acted within the law when he used deadly force against Huntley Jackson, 45, after Jackson stabbed Officer Marie Cetti twice in the back of the neck.

The incident occurred during the early morning hours of Oct. 5, 2024, at a residence in the 100 block of Terry Place.

Prescott’s findings came after a year-long investigation into the shooting.

According to the report, Jimenez reasonably believed Jackson posed an immediate and life-threatening danger to Officer Cetti at the moment force was used.

“Based on our investigation, I conclude that, under the totality of the circumstances, Officer Jimenez reasonably believed that Jackson posed an immediate threat of serious injury or death to Officer Cetti,” Prescott wrote.

“I find that Officer Jimenez’s use of deadly physical force was objectively reasonable and therefore legally justified under the applicable legal standards.”

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Bridgeport police were dispatched to the Terry Place address around 1 a.m. following reports of an emotionally disturbed person.

Four officers responded to the scene and initially encountered Jackson behind a glass door at the residence.

Police said Jackson could be heard yelling from inside and stated that he was not going to leave without a fight.

Body camera footage reviewed as part of the investigation showed officers standing on the front porch while speaking to Jackson through the glass door.

The footage captured officers knocking and asking Jackson to unlock the door as he appeared to be arguing with someone inside the residence, with his back turned toward the officers.

According to the report, Officer Cetti attempted to manipulate the door lock using what appeared to be a pocketknife.

As another person inside the residence reached past Jackson to open the door, Jackson turned, stepped forward out of the doorway, and threatened to kill one of the officers.

Video evidence showed Jackson lunging at Cetti with a knife, stabbing her twice in the neck area.

One officer attempted to physically intervene, grabbing Jackson as the attack unfolded.

Jimenez fired two shots at Jackson approximately four seconds after the lunge began, according to the body camera footage cited in the report.

Cetti was transported for medical treatment and later released.

Jackson survived the shooting and was later charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, and assault on a police officer.

Court records show that he pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains held on a $750,000 bond.

He is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 15, according to Judicial Branch records.

Officers interviewed during the investigation described Jackson as irrational, aggressive, and confrontational.

One officer told investigators that Jackson expressed paranoid beliefs, including that someone was trying to inject him or put him to sleep.

The report also included a statement from Officer Jah’maine Mercer, who was present during the incident.

Mercer said Jackson repeatedly referenced officers’ firearms and made violent statements.

“Several times Jackson made references about officer’s guns, fighting and hurting people and other comments of a violent nature.

Officer Cetti asked dispatched to send the medics, then Jackson stated, ‘and one of them is going to get hurt tonight, there’s going to be a fight. Combat! You got your guns!’” Mercer said in his statement, according to the report.

In his own statement to investigators, Jimenez said he saw Jackson raise his arm and begin stabbing Cetti.

Mercer stepped in to try to separate the two officers from Jackson as Jimenez discharged his weapon.

“He immediately lunged at officer Cetti, shouting, ‘I’m going to (expletive) kill one of you,” Jimenez said in the statement.

“Jackson continued to attack Officer Cetti, raising his right arm in an overhead aggressive stabbing motion in the direction of Officer Cetti’s head and neck area. Fearing the immediate life-threatening actions to inflict serious bodily harm towards Officer Cetti, I drew my department-issued firearm from the holster and fired two shots at Jackson from close range.”

Jackson fell forward onto the porch after being shot but continued to hold the knife, refusing to release it until he began losing consciousness. An officer stepped on his arm to prevent him from using the weapon, according to the report.

Jackson was transported to St. Vincent’s Medical Center, where he remained hospitalized for 15 days.

Prescott said Jackson sustained injuries to his liver, kidney, ribs, and spine. He was arraigned on attempted murder charges while still hospitalized.

After reviewing video footage, physical evidence, and witness statements, Prescott concluded that Jimenez’s actions were necessary to stop an ongoing attack.

“There can be no question that Jackson moved at Cetti with a deadly weapon, a knife, with such speed that a quick reaction was imperative to stop Jackson’s assault,” Prescott wrote.

“In fact, the quick actions of both Jimenez and Officer Mercer undoubtedly spared Cetti from greater injury.”