Melissa Bailey Photo
From left: Assistant Police Chief John Velleca, Chief Limon, Mayor DeStefano.
(Updated) Police arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with Wednesday night’s shooting death of a 16 year-old, and they’re looking for a second suspect — the person they believe pulled the fatal trigger.
The homicide took place at George and Day street, in an eerie scene that involved a mob brawl. Click here to read about it, as well as about a subsequent brawl at the Hospital of St. Raphael.
Police believe that the fight broke out over a dispute involving a girl. At least 10 people jumped one person in the dispute. That man allegedly broke free and started firing at random into the crowd. One of those bullets allegedly hit and eventually killed 16-year-old Sean Reeves of the Dwight/Kensington neighborhood.
Then a second man pulled out a gun and started shooting back, police believe. It’s that second man that police arrested early Friday morning. He faces weapons charges. He was arraigned in state Superior Court on Elm Street Friday morning and held on a $500,000 bond.
Police are applying for an arrest warrant for the first man, who allegedly fired the fatal bullet. They have not caught up with him yet.
At a press conference Friday afternoon at police headquarters, Mayor John DeStefano said Reeves’ death does not fit in with the general pattern of city shootings, where 85 percent of shooters and victims have past criminal records. Nor was the dispute about drugs, he said.
“Sean Reeves did nothing to warrant losing his life,” said DeStefano. “His family did nothing to warrant losing their son.”
Reeves’ father, aunt and cousins attended Friday’s press event. They declined to speak to the media.
Lt. Julie Johnson, who heads the Major Crimes Unit, called the killing a “senseless act of violence.” She said police believe Reeves was caught in the line of fire.
“We believe that he was not the target,” Johnson said.
The second suspect is wanted on a manslaughter charge — not murder, Johnson said. For a murder charge, cops would have to prove he intended to kill Reeves.
Johnson said police have not yet made contact with the suspect. He’s due in state court on Aug. 22 for a litany of unrelated charges related to selling drugs.
DeStefano and Johnson commended detectives for so quickly cracking the case.
Reeves is the year’s 21st homicide victim in New Haven. All but two of the victims have been black.
Reeves played with an Amateur Athletic Union basketball team called the New Haven Blazers. His coaches — including Carlton Staggers (a West Hills aldermanic candidate) — are hosting a fundraiser Saturday night for his family.
Following is the text of a release Staggers issued:
Media Advisory
The New Haven Blazers, a local Amateur Athletic Union basketball team, is helping host a fundraiser in support of Sean Reeve’s family as they bury their son after he was shot and killed during a Wednesday night altercation. This Saturday night at 9:00 PM at Boku in West Haven, friends, family, and community members are gathering to help defray the costs of his funeral for Sean’s family. The proceeds of the event will go to commemorate the life of their teammate. Sean’s AAU basketball teammates and coaches are heading up the effort. Sean was loved by many friends and family. “Sean was a kid who died too young, too early,” says Sean’s former basketball coach Carlton Staggers. “He was trying to get his life together. We need to do more to keep these kids from hurting each other.”
Sean loved basketball and had worked to share his skills with younger kids in the community. He had stepped up to play a positive role in the lives of kids a few years younger. This summer alone he worked as a counselor for the Connecticut League Basketball Camp. The outpouring of support that will take place this Saturday demonstrates the community’s desire to both grieve and remember the life of a beloved New Haven son. All are encouraged to attend the fundraiser as well as the funeral. If you can commit a little support, it would mean a great deal to Sean’s family and friends.
For information please contact:
Carlton Staggers
203 – 606-5784 (Cell)
cstaggers35@gmail.com
9:00 PM Saturday, August 13th
Boku Restaurant and Bar
481 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT
(203) 937‑0688