(Updated)The two homicides that took place within 10 hours of each other Wednesday were related, Police Chief Dean Esserman said Thursday.
One took place in West Hills mid-day Wednesday, the other shortly before 10:30 p.m. in Newhallville.
“These shootings are not random. They are not about the neighborhoods or the good people who live and work in them. The three victims are connected,” Esserman stated in a department-issued press release.
He reported that the department has increased patrols since the two homicides and that investigators have been tracking down “many” leads with the help of the public.
Following is an earlier version of this story:
Police are investigating a shoot-out that left one man dead in Newhallville Wednesday night.
Here’s what happened, according to police spokesman Officer Dave Hartman:
At 10:28 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to addresses one block from each other, on Division Street and Shelton Avenue, on reports of a person shot at each location.
A shoot-out had taken place. Police found 19-year-old Errol Marshal on the front porch of a home on Division Street. He had been shot in the head, and was pronounced dead at the scene. At the same time, police found a 26-year-old on Shelton Avenue who had been shot in the abdomen. He was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital for treatment of the non-life-threatening wound.
Wednesday evening’s homicide was the second in 10 hours on Wednesday.
“We don’t know who was shooting at who” in the Newhallville shoot-out, said Sgt. Al Vazquez, whose team was beginning what would be an all-day Fourth of July work day investigating both homicides. Vazquez said detectives do have some leads they have begun tracking.
Chief Dean Esserman announced Thursday afternoon that the two homicides and the non-fatal shooting are all related.
“These shootings are not random. They are not about the neighborhoods or the good people who live and work in them. The three victims are connected”, said Esserman.
Esserman ordered increased patrols. “A very large number of Officers are working around the clock to assure our residents and visitors have a safe holiday weekend,” Hartman said. Detectives have a “many leads,” thanks to help from the public, he said.
“Anyone who may have witnessed these crimes or with information regarding these investigations is asked to phone police at 203 – 946-6304 to speak with a detective,” said Hartman.