Norwich officer shot in standoff leaves hospital

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP/WTNH) — A Norwich police officer who was shot and wounded in an hours-long standoff Monday night was released from the hospital Thursday.

Officer Jonathan Ley leaves Yale-New Haven hospital in a wheelchair but stands as officers from several departments applaud his heroics.

Some were by his side or there for back up when he was shot four times during a deadly stand off at the Cedar Glen apartments in Norwich Monday night.

"It's emotional we didn't know what to expect when we got down here. We sent officers down there the other night our tac team was on stand by almost immediately when this went down. It was breathtraking to see him under his own power. He looked fantastic," said Stan Parizo of the Willimantic Police Dept.

Many say it's a miracle he heads home just days after taking four bullets to his body. Officer Stan Parizo trained under Ley.

"If anybody can mentally and physically make it back from this it's Jon Ley, absolutely," said Parizo.

From here Officer Ley is hitting the highway and heading home but he'll still have a long road to recovery.

"He has a lot of treatment ahead of him but this is half the battle. It's a great relief that he's coming out of here on his own power and it's great to see," said Sgt. Garth Perri of the Hartford Police Dept.

Sgt. Perri used to work with Ley in Norwich. An emotional day for officers, especially those who watched him take four bullets during the deadly stand-off.

"We have different patches on our sleeves but we're all brother and sister police officers and this showing really demonstrates that and all these officers would much rather clapping as he leaves than attending a funeral on a cold day like today," said Sgt. Perri.

For now the 38-year-old veteran officer will continue to spend time with friends and family including his two-year-old son who was with him as he left Yale-New Haven hospital. His departure marked by a show of force by officers. Some of whom joined the convoy which continued in true law enforcement fashion down I-95 back to Norwich. Lights but no sirens taking a hero home.

"He's in great shape. He's a healthy individual so if anyone can bounce back from this I'm sure it's him," said Sgt. Perri.

"Just a high speed low drag kind of guy he definitely is an inspiration to all of us," said Parizo.

A state police spokesman says a tactical team found 30-year-old Jason Razzino dead in a bathroom after breaking into an apartment, hours after the standoff began Monday afternoon. Police say he killed himself.

His girlfriend, Ashley Thivierge, told The Day she doesn't understand why Razzino acted as he did. She said he battled alcoholism and was seeking mental health treatment.