NEW HAVEN, Conn. — New Haven police said one person is dead and five hospitalized following a shooting late Saturday night.
The shooting happened on Rossette Street near Hulbert Street and Wilson Street around 11:50 p.m. Saturday.
Four people were taken to the hospital by an ambulance while two others were taken by private car. One of the victims, 28-year-old Dayshon Smith, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Smith had been a boxer with an extremely promising career.
The five other victims are also New Haven residents:
- A 27-year-old woman was shot multiple times in the side of her torso.
- A 28-year-old woman was shot in the arm and leg.
- A 31-year-old man was shot in the face.
- A 37-year-old man was shot twice in the leg.
- A 37-year-old man was shot in the thigh.
All are reported to be in stable condition. New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes says one of the women "sustained a very critical wound", and credited EMS personnel and hospital staff with saving her life.
With candles in a make-shift memorial flickering in a light rain, Mayor Elicker and Police Chief Otoniel Reyes held a media briefing in front of the crime scene.
Reyes says police responded to the same location earlier, about 10:30 p.m., for a crowd that had gathered to commemorate a homicide victim who was killed one year ago. That crowd dispersed, but on what was police said was an especially busy day and night, an hour later they again received reports that there was again a crowd on Rosette Street, with reports of people "playing dice and just hanging out." Then the shooting started.
This is the city's 14th homicide of the year, and the second one on Rosette Street. Another man was killed there last month, but Reyes said there's so far no indication that the two killings are related. He said police believe Saturday's shooting was dispute that happened 'organically' among people who knew each other.
Reyes also said that at least two of the victims were felons who had recently been released from prison; one was on parole and another on probation. Reyes has previously said that the release of people from prison back into the New Haven community has been a factor in recent city violence, comments for which some community members have criticized him.
Elicker had spent part of the morning going door-to-door visiting with residents of The Hill neighborhood, "just to show that we're here to support people. A lot of people are experiencing a lot of trauma at this time."
Elicker said he and Chief Reyes have been discussing "how to escalate our response" to the increased violence in the city.
Police have offered no further information on any possible suspects.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304. Callers may remain anonymous.