Judge Finds "Overwhelming Evidence" Police Could Have Prevented New Haven Firefighter's Suicide

NEW HAVEN, CT, November 09, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A Connecticut Superior Court judge has denied the City of New Haven's and three police officers' motions for summary judgment in the wrongful death lawsuit involving New Haven firefighter William J. McMillian, allowing the case to proceed to trial.

In its November 2, 2026 decision, the Court found "overwhelming evidence" from which a jury could conclude that responding officers disregarded mandatory duties to take McMillian into custody, and seize his firearms, following a domestic dispute on May 6, 2021.

On the morning of May 6, 2021, McMillian's former girlfriend contacted 911 just days after their relationship ended, about a domestic dispute. She informed responding New Haven police officers that McMillian was intoxicated, behaving erratically, and had access to multiple firearms. Although one responding officer wanted to take McMillian into custody, a supervising sergeant instructed the officer to issue a misdemeanor summons instead. McMillian was not taken into custody. The officers failed to check for or seize his firearms. Tragically, McMillian died by suicide with one of those firearms just hours later. The estate's expert psychiatrist will testify at trial that taking McMillian into custody would have allowed for a cooling down of the acute psychiatric condition that led to the suicide.

Besides the officers failing to comply with mandatory requirements, another critical issue in the case is the disappearance of a Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP) form completed by police documenting McMillian's acute psychiatric condition and access to firearms. The Court ruled that a jury could infer the form was deliberately concealed or destroyed to hide evidence of their negligence.

This ruling follows a $38 million federal jury verdict in Morant v. City of New Haven, where the City was found liable for a practice of suppressing evidence favorable to criminal defendants, and former detectives were found liable for fabricating evidence and coercing witnesses. Both cases raise serious concerns about police accountability and the handling of critical evidence.

Attorneys Bert McDowell Jr. of Bert McDowell Injury Law and Ron Etemi of Etemi Law represent the McMillian estate, whose negligence and recklessness claims will now proceed to a jury trial.

A jury trial is scheduled for May 2027.

Media Contacts:

Ron Etemi, Esq. | Etemi Law – Injury Lawyers
(203) 680-8080 | www.EtemiLaw.com

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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