šØ Woman Opens Fire Inside Police Station Lobby ā No One Injured Thanks to Bulletproof Glass!
Late-night drama in Bristol, Connecticut: On the evening of October 5, 2023, a woman ā later identified as Suzanne Laprise, 51 ā walked into the Bristol Police Department lobby and fired multiple shots into the bulletproof glass of the reception area. Fortunately, no one was injured. The bullet-resistant barriers held strong and officers responded without casualties.
š What went down:
- Laprise entered the lobby with a gun, banging on and firing at windows and doors, but the glass stopped every round.
- She fired further shots at responding officers through the bulletproof glass. Officer Spencer Boisvert returned fire twice, but no injurieswere reported. The rounds were also stopped by the glass.
- When she briefly put the gun down, police entered the lobby and used a Taser to subdue her. Laprise was detained.
š§ Why she did it:
Court records revealed Laprise had been struggling with depression and feelings of being trapped. She reportedly told officers she wanted police to shoot her.
Earlier that night, sheād told a bar patron: āIām going to go to the Bristol Police Department and tell them to kill me or I will shoot them.ā
āļø Legal outcome:
In February 2025, she pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree assault as part of a plea deal.
On April 8, 2025, she was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of probation. Conditions of her probation include no weapon possession, mental health and substance treatment, and intensive therapy.
š What officials said:
The judge highlighted that only the bulletproof glass and police restraint prevented tragedy. Officers used a stun gun instead of deadly force, and their swift action avoided what couldāve been a fatal outcome.
šļø The bigger picture:
This case comes less than a year after two Bristol officers were ambushed and killed in 2022, adding to the trauma already felt in the community.
š Quick summary:
| Key Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date of incident | October 5, 2023 |
| Location | Bristol Police Department lobby, CT |
| Shooter | Suzanne Laprise, 51 |
| Damage | Multiple shots into bulletproof glass ā no penetration |
| Officersā response | Shots returned, then stun-gunned and subdued her |
| Injuries | None |
| Sentence | 12 years prison + 5 years probation |
| Probation Conditions | No weapons; mental health & substance treatment |
ā ļø Why weāre talking about it now:
Though the shooting happened in October 2023, the sentencing in April 2025 has reignited discussion about mental health crises, suicide prevention, and how police handle life-threatening incidents without resorting to deadly force.
ā Why bulletproof glass matters:
- The lobbyās reinforced glass literally stopped bullets that could have killed officers or civilians.
- It transformed what couldāve been a fatal attack into a contained, non-lethal incident.
TL;DR:
A woman armed with a handgun fired multiple shots inside a police station lobby in 2023, but bulletproof glass saved lives. Officers returned fire but didnāt hit her, then used a stun gun to take her down. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 years in prison with probation and mandatory treatment.
