Suspect steals police cruiser, gets shot before crashing it into Bristol restaurant [VIDEOS]

In January 2023, a Bristol police officer shot a suspect who had stolen a police cruiser and then crashed into Palma's Diner, officials said.

The Inspector General has concluded the investigation and announced that the evidence is insufficient to show that the shooting was unjustified, choosing not to take further action.

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The incident occurred on the afternoon of January 12, 2023, when Jimmie Shoemaker-Gonzalez, 39, stole a Bristol Police Department cruiser parked on Quaker Lane.

Bristol Police Officer Seth Petzing responded by firing four rounds into the cruiser as Shoemaker-Gonzalez drove off, striking and injuring him.

The Inspector General's report states that Shoemaker-Gonzalez was hit four times, with two shots hitting his thigh and two hitting his left leg.

Despite the injuries, Shoemaker-Gonzalez continued driving for approximately two and a half miles before crashing into Palma's Diner on Stafford Avenue.

Earlier that day, Shoemaker-Gonzalez had committed a carjacking in Hartford, where he attacked a man with a knife and stole a Dodge Durango.

After fleeing the scene, he was involved in a collision with a snowplow in Farmington, causing him to abandon the Durango after crashing into a fence and rock wall.

Shoemaker-Gonzalez attempted to steal a Nissan Versa at knifepoint but was unsuccessful. Around midday, he attacked another victim, cutting his arm before stealing a Toyota RAV4 and driving towards Bristol.

A Bristol police sergeant later spotted the stolen RAV4 on Davis Drive and tried to stop Shoemaker-Gonzalez, but it rammed the police cruiser, a guardrail and a dumpster before going down a ravine and hitting another railing Shoemaker-Gonzalez fled on foot and managed to steal a Bristol Police cruiser on Quaker Lane.

Officer Petzing, who was at the scene, ordered Shoemaker-Gonzalez to stop and exit the vehicle.

When the suspect ignored commands and drove past the officer, Petzing fired four shots into the driver's side door.

Shoemaker-Gonzalez later told investigators that she had been drinking and smoking PCP and claimed to have little memory of the events.

He also mentioned suffering from PTSD, depression and being bipolar. Blood tests confirmed that Shoemaker-Gonzalez had benzoylecgonine (a metabolite of cocaine), oxycodone and PCP in her system at the time.

After being hospitalized, Shoemaker-Gonzalez was released on January 15, 2023 and taken into police custody.

The Office of Inspector General has since determined that the shooting was justified and no further action will be taken against Officer Petzing.