What We Know
Westbrook: What We Know
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What happened in the Westbrook, Connecticut shooting, and what are the charges? Connecticut State Police say one person died and another was critically injured at a home in Westbrook on the evening of Oct. 28, 2026. On Oct. 29, state police announced that a 37-year-old man was charged with murder and criminal attempt to commit murder. He is charged, not convicted, and is presumed innocent. We do not name him at this stage, and police have not identified the two victims.
What's confirmed
- Oct. 28, 2026, about 5:25 p.m.Troopers from Connecticut State Police Troop F responded to a home in Westbrook for a report of a disturbance. Connecticut State Police release; Patch; NBC Connecticut
- Troopers found a man outside the home. Inside were two people with apparent gunshot wounds. Connecticut State Police release
- One person was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was taken to Hartford Hospital in critical condition. Connecticut State Police release; Patch; NBC Connecticut
- Police have not publicly identified either victim. Patch; Connecticut State Police release
- Oct. 29State police announced the charges: murder (C.G.S. 53a-54a) and criminal attempt to commit murder (C.G.S. 53a-49/53a-54a). The accused, a 37-year-old man, was held on a $3 million cash/surety bond and was due in Superior Court in Middletown (GA-9) that morning. Connecticut State Police release; WFSB; Patch; NBC Connecticut
- The second person remained in critical condition as of Thursday morning, Oct. 29. The investigation is continuing. NBC Connecticut; Connecticut State Police release
What we don't know
- Who the two people were. State police have not released their names.
- What led to the shooting. Investigators haven't said.
- What happens next in court. No plea has been reported, and no next court date has been announced in the sources we checked.
What happens next
The case is in Superior Court in Middletown (Geographical Area 9, which hears cases from Westbrook). When the court or the state police release more, we'll update this case.
Charges are accusations, not proof. The accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Chapters
- 0:00Westbrook, CT charges: what we know
- 0:32Westbrook, CT shooting: what police say
- 1:03Westbrook murder charge: the police release
- 1:33Westbrook case: what is still open
Sources
- Connecticut State Police, "Troopers Investigate Homicide in Westbrook" Primary recordcspnews.org/post/troopers-investigate-homicide-in-westbrook
- NBC Connecticut, Stephanie O'Connell (Oct. 29, 2026) Reportingnbcconnecticut.com/news/local/man-charged-with-murder-attempted-murder-after-westbrook-shooting/3789944/
- Patch, Chris Rhatigan (Oct. 29, 2026) Reportingpatch.com/connecticut/clinton/man-charged-murder-double-shooting-westbrook-state-police
- WFSB Reportingwfsb.com/2026/10/28/state-police-responding-disturbance-westbrook/
- Connecticut Judicial Branch, GA-9 Middletown (towns served) Primary recordjud.ct.gov/directory/Maps/GA/9-Middletown.htm
The record · as of Nov. 8, 2026
How we know
Primary records are court and agency documents; reporting is news coverage we checked against them. How we report.
What happens next
Verified timeline
- 2026-10-28Around 5:25 p.m., Connecticut State Police Troop F responded to a home on East Pond Meadow Road in Westbrook, CT, for a reported disturbance (CSP: 'approximately 1725 hours').CSP release; WFSB; Patch
- 2026-10-28Police say troopers found a man outside the residence and two people inside with apparent gunshot wounds. Police report one was pronounced dead at the scene; the other was taken to Hartford Hospital in critical condition (WFSB: critical but stable).CSP release; WFSB; Patch
- 2026-10-28Police say the man found outside was arrested and charged with murder (C.G.S. 53a-54a) and criminal attempt to commit murder (53a-49/53a-54a), held on a million. Only WFSB confirms the hearing took place; CSP and Patch only announced the 9 a.m. date. No plea reported by any outlet.CSP release; WFSB; Patch
- 2026-10-28Police say the man found outside was arrested and charged with murder (C.G.S. 53a-54a) and criminal attempt to commit murder (53a-49/53a-54a), held on a $3,000,000 bond. Charges are allegations; he is presumed innocent. Unnamed in our script (charged only).CSP release; WFSB; Patch
- 2026-10-28The woman killed was Katie M. Liljedahl, 44, of Westbrook, a Middlefield native and early-childhood educator; identified by her family's obituary and her sister in CT Insider (state police have not released names).Biega's Funeral Home obituary; CT Insider 2026-11-05
- 2026-10-28Per the state police report, troopers found the accused outside in the driveway with his hands raised; he was taken into custody without incident, and later declined to speak with investigators and asked for an attorney.NBC Connecticut 2026-11-03; CT Insider 2026-11-05
- 2026-10-28Per the police report, the accused had rented space in the home for several years; the surviving victim, the homeowner, was engaged to Liljedahl (family account).CT Insider 2026-11-05; NBC Connecticut 2026-11-03
- 2026-10-28About 5:25 p.m., Connecticut State Police Troop F troopers responded to a report of a disturbance at a home on East Pond Meadow Road in Westbrook. Police say they found a man outside and two people inside with apparent gunshot wounds. (Several Nov. 3-4 warrant reports round the time to 'about 5:30 p.m.')CSP release; Patch 10/29; NBC CT 10/29; WFSB 10/28
- 2026-10-28Police say one person was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was taken to Hartford Hospital in critical condition (WFSB: by LifeStar helicopter).CSP release; Patch 10/29; NBC CT 10/29; WFSB 10/28
- 2026-10-29State police announced that a 37-year-old man was charged with murder (C.G.S. 53a-54a) and criminal attempt to commit murder (C.G.S. 53a-49/53a-54a) and held on a $3 million cash/surety bond. Charged only, presumed innocent; not named by us.CSP release; Patch 10/29 7:15am; NBC CT 10/29; WFSB 10/29
- 2026-10-29The accused was due in Superior Court in Middletown (GA-9) at 9 a.m. for a first appearance.CSP release; Patch 10/29; NBC CT 10/29; WFSB 10/29; CT Judicial Branch GA-9 map
- 2026-10-29The surviving victim remained in critical condition as of Thursday morning, Oct. 29 (WFSB: 'critical but stable'); police say the investigation continues.NBC CT 10/29; WFSB 10/29; CSP release
- 2026-11-03Arrest-warrant reporting: according to the warrant, the accused told troopers at the scene 'I shot' and 'I shot well,' and police say he admitted being under the influence of ketamine at the time. These are allegations in a warrant; he has not been convicted and is presumed innocent.WFSB 11/3; NBC CT 11/3; WTNH 11/4; FOX61 11/4
- 2026-11-03According to the warrant reporting, the accused declined to speak with detectives in custody and asked for an attorney.WTNH 11/4; FOX61 11/4
- 2026-11-05Funeral liturgy for Katie Liljedahl held Nov. 5, 2026, at Saint Colman Church, Middlefield.Biega's Funeral Home obituary
- Still unknown: the relationship between the accused and the two victims, and any motive. Police have not said.WFSB 10/29; WFSB 11/3; WTNH 11/4
Also in our research file
- Katie M. Liljedahl obituary (family) Primary recordBiega's Funeral Home
- 'I shot well,' suspect in Westbrook homicide told troopers at scene, police say ReportingCT Insider · Nov. 5, 2026
- Man accused of murder, attempted murder in Westbrook told police he was on ketamine: REPORT ReportingWTNH · Nov. 4, 2026
- Westbrook man charged with murder in deadly shooting, admitted to being on ketamine: Warrant ReportingFOX61, via Yahoo · Nov. 4, 2026
- Westbrook murder suspect reportedly admitted to shooting, said he was on ketamine: Report ReportingNBC Connecticut · Nov. 3, 2026
- Suspect in Westbrook homicide told state police he was on ketamine at time of murder ReportingWFSB · Nov. 3, 2026
- Woman identified as victim in fatal Westbrook shooting ReportingHearst CT
- CT Insider (Diamy Wang, Oct. 30, 2026): Woman identified as victim in fatal Westbrook shooting Reportingyahoo.com
Updates and corrections
Photos: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0); Ajay Suresh / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0); John Phelan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0); Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress (public domain). Map: U.S. Census TIGER (public domain).
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