HARTFORD – Police have identified Chad Petitpas, 46, of Uncasville, Connecticut, as the suspect involved in a fatal shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday night. The victim, Diana Tirado, also 46 years old and from New Britain, was pronounced dead at the scene after being found with multiple gunshot wounds inside her vehicle parked near Magnolia Street.
Petitpas died by suicide during an encounter with law enforcement personnel at a motel in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on Thursday. According to Hartford police, Petitpas had been tracked down following a manhunt initiated shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday when officers responded to the area based on alerts from ShotSpotter technology indicating gunfire.
In addition to murder and first-degree assault charges, Petitpas was also charged with risk of injury, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal use of a firearm, and first-degree reckless endangerment by Hartford police. A second woman in her 30s sustained injuries during the incident but survived and is currently receiving medical care at an area hospital.
Records from Connecticut’s Sex Offender Registry indicate that Petitpas was convicted in September 2007 for two counts of first-degree sexual assault, unlawful restraint, and risk of injury to a minor. His release date from prison was June 27, 2022. Prior criminal history includes a conviction for first-degree assault following an incident when he was 17 years old in New Britain.
The Hartford Police Department has confirmed that Petitpas's involvement with the sex offender registry and his violent past were known to authorities prior to Wednesday’s shooting. This information underscores concerns about public safety measures and monitoring protocols for individuals with a history of serious offenses.