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Murder Scene
(Updated: 4:25 p.m.) Was the murder of a Yale University doctor the result of bad blood from a previous workplace relationship?
That is one question that is front and center in the minds of Branford detectives as the story unfolds about a murder that took place in town this morning.
Police say that the victim, Vajinder Pal Toor, 34, was leaving his condo at 255 Blueberry Lane at the Meadows Condominiums, when the shooting took place in a nearby parking area. The suspect was waiting for him, the police said. Dr. Toor was gunned down at about 7:50 a.m., as he was about to head for his car to go to work at Yale, about a twenty minute drive away.
The shots alerted his wife, who ran outside onto the porch. She witnessed the horrific scene. The attacker then shot at her, but missed, police said. She is the mother of a 3‑year-old and is pregnant with another child. She was unharmed, police said.. They said the victim, Dr. Toor, was shot multiple times.
Branford PD
Lishan Wang
A suspect, now identified as Lishan Wang, 44, of Marietta, Ga., is said to have ambushed Dr. Toor. This afternoon, Wang, who police believe drove up from Georgia with the intent of killing Dr. Toor, was charged with murder, attempted murder, concealing weapons in a motor vehicle, carrying a handgun without a permit and unlawful discharge of a fire arm. He was held on $2 million bond.
Police say they are now investigating a prior relationship between Dr. Toor and Wang.
According to Yale officials Dr.Toor worked at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in New York from 2005 to 2008 before coming for a post doc program at Yale in infectious diseases. Wang worked there too. Police have interviewed Dr. Toor’s widow about the past relationship between the two men.
“Our agency is looking at a number of motives for this homicide,” said Police Chief John DeCarlo. “We are unsure of the extent of their interactions at this time.” It is not yet known what position Wang held at the Brooklyn hospital or in what capacity the two men came together while there.
After getting a search warrant giving them permission to enter Wang’s car, police identified him and said his last known address was 3546 South East River Heights Crossing, Marietta, Ga. Wang is a Chinese citizen from Beijing.
According to Lt. Geoffrey Morgan, residents living in the tight-knit condo provided police with detailed information about the suspect and his burgundy van as it fled the area.
Officer Joseph Peterson, hearing the description of the van, turned around in pursuit. He stopped the vehicle in the vicinity of the shooting and the lone suspect was taken into custody. “Evidence in plain view within the vehicle preliminarily linked the suspect to the shooting,” Morgan said.
Police would not identify the evidence, but the suspect is believed to have had guns on the seat next to him.
Officers arriving at Blueberry Lane found Dr. Toor in the parking lot near his home. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by Branford Fire Department paramedics.
Yale Police Chief James A. Perrotti sent an email message to the Yale community about Dr. Toor, who was also a clinical fellow at the Yale School of Medicine:
“I write with the tragic news that Vajinder Toor, a clinical fellow in infectious diseases at Yale, was shot and killed this morning at his home in Branford.” He said “the Branford Police have informed us that this crime is not a random act. They have also indicated that the crime is unrelated to Yale. We all extend our condolences to Vajinder’s family, friends, and colleagues.”
Chief John DeCarlo credits the swift apprehension to the callers who provided such detailed information. “Although our officers are very skilled at what they do, it’s the continued support and cooperation of the public that make these types of investigations successful.” The chief continued, “Our agency and grief counselors from the Branford Counseling Center are working closely with the victim’s family.”
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