Police say the armed resident, 63, died by a self-inflicted gunshot as officers later uncovered explosives and a second body.
STAMFORD, CT — A decomposed body and explosive devices were found inside a Stamford home on Wednesday, one day after an hours-long standoff in which a barricaded resident exchanged gunfire with police and later died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.
Police identified the man who died as 63-year-old Jed Parkington. The standoff unfolded Tuesday at a house on Oaklawn Avenue, where a state marshal had gone to serve a court-ordered eviction in a foreclosure case, officials said. No officers were injured. The discovery of a second body — described as concealed and in a decomposed state — widened the investigation and brought in state bomb technicians to remove suspected pipe bombs, grenades and Molotov cocktails. The Connecticut State Police Major Crimes Unit is processing the home, and the state Office of the Inspector General will review police use of force.
Patrol officers arrived at the property at about 9:17 a.m. Tuesday after the marshal’s call, Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw said. A hostage negotiation team got to the scene at 9:44 a.m., and the department’s Special Response Team rolled in two BearCat armored vehicles around 11:40 a.m. As officers approached, Parkington fired several times, striking an armored windshield, according to Shaw. “Gunfire was exchanged numerous times” during the day, he said, until officers heard a single shot from inside. When tactical officers later entered, they found Parkington dead of an apparent self-inflicted wound. “It’s a very sad day with the loss of two lives,” Shaw said.
Inside the home, police said they located a second body on the second floor, concealed and in a decomposed state. The person’s identity, sex and cause of death were not immediately known. Investigators also reported finding suspected explosive devices — including what appeared to be pipe bombs, grenades and Molotov cocktails — and called in bomb technicians to render them safe. The address, 263 Oaklawn Ave., sits across from Fairfield Memorial Park, where officers and emergency vehicles staged as the neighborhood was locked down. No officers or bystanders were reported injured during the exchange of gunfire. The medical examiner will conduct autopsies to determine causes and approximate times of death.
Court records indicate the property has been in foreclosure. A judge previously denied a request from occupants to remain through the holidays, writing that the lender was entitled to possession. According to officials, Tuesday’s confrontation began as marshals attempted to enforce the order and escalated when Parkington opened fire. Mayor Caroline Simmons called the episode “an unsettling and scary situation for our community,” and emphasized that it appeared isolated with “no ongoing threat to public safety.” Police displayed photos of bullet strikes on an armored vehicle at a briefing Wednesday and said a drone sent into the house helped spot what looked like explosive devices before tactical teams entered.
The state Office of the Inspector General will review the incident, including any police use of deadly force, as required under Connecticut law. The State Police Major Crimes Unit continued processing the scene Wednesday, and the bomb squad worked to remove and secure the devices. Autopsies for Parkington and the second person are pending at the state medical examiner’s office. Detectives are seeking records to trace any purchase or fabrication of explosive components and to determine when and how the second person died. Road closures on Oaklawn Avenue between Dann Drive and Dartley Street remained in place for much of Wednesday, with residents allowed back in phases as investigators cleared hazards.
Neighbors described a chaotic afternoon. Drivers were diverted around police lines as sirens and bursts of gunfire echoed from the block bordering the cemetery. Cellphone video shared with media captured rapid shots and orders to “back up.” Klaus Larsen, who lives nearby, said his wife texted updates as officers pushed people farther from the scene. “It was scary to know and not know,” Larsen said, adding that he returned home close to 9 p.m. Tuesday after police lifted the outer cordon. At Wednesday’s briefing, Shaw held up photos of the armored windshield pocked by rifle rounds. Simmons thanked residents for sheltering in place and reiterated that schools and city services would operate normally.
As of Wednesday evening, investigators had not released the identity of the decomposed person or a timeline for lab results. Officials said additional updates would follow when the medical examiner completes autopsies and the inspector general posts preliminary findings. Police expect to provide further information, including any available video, after hazardous materials are cleared from the house and the scene is released.
Author note: Last updated December 3, 2025.