NEW HAVEN, Conn — New Haven police are investigating a fatal shooting that happened on Monday evening in the Newhallville neighborhood.
Just after 7:30 p.m., New Haven police were notified of a shooting at the intersection of Newhall and Bassett Streets. When police arrived, they located a young male victim.
The victim was taken to the hospital for medical treatment, but police later said the victim did not survive. On Tuesday morning, police identified the victim as 16-year-old Maleak Sweets.
The homicide is the second in the city of New Haven so far this year. It is the fourth shooting in the Elm City this year.
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said the shooting was a targeted drive-by, and the suspect was inside the car.
“When someone dies in New Haven because of gun violence, it’s a tragedy," Elicker told FOX61. "These are members of our community, and for someone that’s a 16-year-old boy to lose their life because of gun violence is unacceptable.”
Elicker went on to say that losing a child is incredibly tragic for anyone and that Sweets had "his whole life ahead of him."
“We clearly have a lot more work to do, but our officers are doing a ton to help prevent gun violence and hold people accountable to prevent tragic incidents such as this, moving in the right direction," Elicker said. "But then something like this happens and it’s very disheartening.”
According to police data, New Haven's homicide rate from gun violence is lower compared to this time last year. Last January, police said five people were shot and killed.
In all of 2023, police said 23 people were shot and killed - two of those homicides were teenagers. This data does not include homicides by other means than guns.
Detectives are working to gather evidence and search for surveillance footage. Police ask anyone with information to contact investigators at 203-946-6304.
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