Groton — A 22-year-old New London man and a 16-year-old boy were arraigned Monday in New London Superior Court in connection with a shooting that occurred Sunday afternoon on Laurelwood Avenue.

The victim, 18-year-old Cory Hudnall, of 167 Laurelwood Ave., was in stable condition at Lawrence + Memorial with a gunshot wound to his lower abdomen. According to the police report, he got a ride to the hospital following the shooting and underwent surgery, where doctors removed a bullet from his left buttock.

Police quickly apprehended the suspects, Robert D. Thomas, 22, of 21 Ocean Ave., New London, and a 16-year-old boy. Officers recovered a .38-caliber revolver and a mask from Thomas' car, according to a police report.

Thomas was charged with first-degree assault and carrying a weapon in a motor vehicle and held overnight. His father was in the courtroom when he was brought before Judge Hunchu Kwak Monday afternoon. Bail commissioner Timothy Gilman recommended a $250,000 bond, reporting that Thomas has no criminal record, no history of a substance abuse or mental health problems and is employed by UPS. Kwak set the bond at $500,000, citing the seriousness of the case and concern for public safety. The judge continued the case to Sept. 3 and transferred it to the Part A court where major crimes are heard.  

The 16-year-old was charged with criminal liability for first-degree assault. He is likely to be tried as an adult due to the seriousness of the charge, but his case remains sealed for now, and Kwak cleared the courtroom for his arraignment. His case was also transferred to the Part A court.

Town police said they were dispatched to Laurelwood Avenue at approximately 5:05 p.m. for reports of a shooting.

Witnesses reported hearing loud pops near the renovated pool house where Hudnall was living and seeing two masked men fleeing into the woods.

Officer Geoffrey Brearley apprehended the two men behind the post office in the Plaza Court Shopping Plaza. The 16-year-old then ran into the woods but was apprehended nearby in the Laurelwood mobile home park, according to a police report.

Inside Thomas' Ford Focus, which had a strong odor of marijuana, was a black mask, and on the driver's seat, a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver, with two live rounds and one spent shell casing in the cylinder, according to a police report.

Interviewed in the emergency room, Hudnall said he was walking home from the Citgo Gas station on Poquonnock Road when two men approached him, wearing masks and carrying revolvers, and one shot him in the abdomen. Hudnall was hesistant to give information, but admitted he recognized the juvenile by his clothing.

The victim's guardian, Jennifer Dixon, told police that Hudnall and the juvenile, who had known each other since middle school, had started spending time together at Laurelwood Avenue home in June. She said the 16-year-old stopped coming to the house a few weeks ago, and Hudnall's girlfriend told her he was looking to rob and hurt Hudnall.

There were four hardwired surveillance cameras trained on the home's pool house, but the wires had been cut, according to a police report. 

The investigation is continuing and the police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call them at (860) 441-6712.