New London Man Charged With Firearms Violations

The New London Police Department arrested a man on several weapons charges Thursday after investigating his alleged role in a shooting earlier this week.

Maurice Milligan, 34, was charged with criminal possession of a handgun, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, carrying a pistol without a permit, weapon in a motor vehicle, and illegal possession of illegal body armor.

According to a police report by Officer Deana Knott, Milligan was suspected of involvement in a shooting that occurred Monday evening near his residence at 500 Ocean Ave. The report said video surveillance at the Sam's Food Store shows Milligan exchanging words with an unknown man prior to a report of shots fired at 11:35 p.m. and that Milligan was seen walking through a Sherman Street backyard with an object in his hand shortly after the shooting. Police recovered several 9-millimeter shell casings at the scene.

At about 11:43 a.m. on Thursday, Knott stopped a vehicle driven by Milligan's roommate near the 7-11 on Broad Street. The report says Milligan was wearing a bulletproof vest and that a Glock 9-millimeter handgun without a serial number was found in the vehicle. The gun had a 19-round magazine with a two round extender, but did not have a round in the chamber.

The report says Milligan has a "lengthy multi-state criminal history," including a felony conviction disqualifying him from owning firearms. Milligan's criminal history in Connecticut includes misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance, breach of peace, and interfering with police.

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