Man shot by police after shooting at them during domestic call

Berlin, Conn. (WTNH) - A man is in critical condition after being shot by Berlin Police during a domestic incident .

It was 10:30 p.m. Thursday when police got a call about an argument at 18 Peck Street. The man who lives here met police outside and said he'd been assaulted by his nephew who was still inside the house. Neighbors noticed the police.

"Naturally I wondered what was going on," neighbor Tom Smith said, "so I opened the door and they said close your door, lock it and stay inside. So I did just that and not too long after that I heard gunshots fired."

Police say what he heard was the nephew - 44-year-old Jeffrey Yeaw - shooting at police from just inside the door to the house, and then the cops shooting back.

"One of the Berlin officers returned fire and struck the suspect multiple times," said state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance.

The police were not hurt. Crews took Jeffrey Yeaw to Hartford hospital. The hospital says Yeaw should survive the injuries. Several bullet holes were visible the wall just inside the door, and one outside by the steps.

"Any idea how many gunshots you heard?"
"I really couldn't say," Smith said.
"A bunch?"
"Enough."
"Enough to worry you it sounds like?"
"Yes. My wife was very freaked out," he said.

That's because it's usually a quiet neighborhood. The house stands next to a church which has a school. It had classes like normal today.

A lot of neighbors were surprised to find out their neighbor had a gun, and fired it at police.

"I know he's a pretty quiet guy. I don't see him all that often," Dave Maskell said. "The only time I see him is when he's mowing the lawn, or if there's snow on the ground he'll shovel, but other than that I don't really see him all that much."

State police say because the investigation is still going on, they don't know exactly what charges this man is going to be facing, but he will be facing a bunch of them as soon as he is healthy enough to be arraigned.