Unfortunately the headline sums up the details that were released at this afternoon’s press conference. Essentially the ATF is investigating the source of the AK-47 found at the scene as well as determining if the bullets found at the scene and at officer Morelli’s home match, and were fired from the gun that was used.
They are not at a point where they can make a 100% determination that it was suicide or accidental. The investigation is ongoing, and will be thorough. Most of the questions asked at the press conference couldn’t be answered because of the ongoing investigation. None of the details concerning the guns found, shots fired, whether the crime scene was staged could be answered.
Chief Rilling did confirm that an AK-47 was recovered. He could not confirm whether it was Morelli’s or whether that was the gun that was used, or whether it was registere, as per law, with the state. It is still an open question as to whether it was common knowledge amongst the polcie department officials that Morelli regularly carried an AK-47 on patrols.
Officer Morelli will be honored with full burial services and that the Marine Honor Guard will be here. From the press release: Matthew became a United States Marine and Norwalk Police Officer for all of the right reasons; duty, hnor, country and community service. The night of Friday, Officer Morelli began his solo patrol at 11 PM and it was typical for him to patrol solo during this shift.
Beyond the ATF investigating the gun used, other details will need to be looked into. Chiefly, if this gun shot was not accidental, the motive behind every incident leading up the shooting must be examined. Avenues of investigation could be the types of calls that Ofifcer Morelli answered in the days preceding the incident.
Yesterday afternoon, Chief Rilling did send a notice out, according to a Norwalk Police officer, and reported by the AP, that alerted Connecticut Police chiefs that it was likely that the shooting was self inflicted. Although rumours to that effect swirled as early as Friday, the crime scene indicated that there were other possibilities and had to be investigated.
Some of the media questioned why the public was not alerted earlier to the possibility and why the public was not kept more informed about crime scene details. The Chief struggled to explain the situation, this is as he said, not something you learn about in a text book. Crime scenes are often not clear cut, one had only to watch enough “cold case” shows to realize that what seemingly seems obvious after all the facts are detailed is often chaotic and open to interpretation. Coupled with the state involvement and the FBI, and it is not hard to see that information was not even up to Chief Rilling to release.
Mayor Moccia said he was open to evaluating whether a policy change of two man patrols at night might be revisited. His concerns about such a policy change center on the impact that would have on the number of patrols, implying that they would have to be reduced. There are areas of Norwalk where this would not be such a good idea.
