Spots where a bullet entered Bethel AME Church and into the sanctuary.
City police are investigating five different nonfatal shootings that took place over the last three days — including one that sent a 14-year-old New Havener to the hospital, another that sent a 19-year-old West Haven resident to the hospital, and a third that hit a Dixwell church.
That spate of gunfire took place between Thursday and Saturday.
City police spokesperson Officer Scott Shumway provided updates in various email press releases on the four recent shootings that sent victims to the hospital.
Bethel AME Church Rev. Steven Cousin and Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson provided the Independent with details on the fifth shooting, which did not result in any injuries, but did send a bullet flying through Bethel AME Church’s front door and into the wall of its sanctuary.
Here’s what happened, according to police department press releases:
• At around 1:57 p.m. on Thursday, city police received multiple 911 calls reporting a person shot on Downing Street between Peck Street and Lombard Street in Fair Haven. Responding officers located a crime scene, and later learned that a 19-year-old West Haven man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds had arrived at Yale New Haven Hospital by private car. The press release states that the victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and listed in stable condition.
• At around 12:09 p.m. on Friday, city police received a 911 calls about a person shot on Valley Street between Mountain Road and East Ramsdell Street. Responding officers found a 22-year-old New Haven man suffering from a gunshot wound. An ambulance transported the victim to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and listed in stable condition.
• At around 6:30 p.m. on Friday, city police received a ShotSpotter alert and 911 calls regarding gunshots fired on George Street between Waverly Street and Day Street. Responding officers found a 41-year-old West Haven man suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
• At around 3:41 a.m. on Saturday, city police received a ShotSpotter alert and 911 calls regarding gunshots fired on Orchard Street between George Street and Chapel Street. Responding officers found a 14-year-old New Haven resident suffering from a gunshot would. An ambulance transported him to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Cousin, meanwhile, told the Independent about yet another shooting that took place at around 11 p.m. Friday night.
He said that an apparent flurry of gunfire outside of his Goffe Street church sent one bullet through the church’s front door, through a window, and into the wall in the sanctuary. He said that bullet remained lodged in the wall of the sanctuary as of Saturday afternoon.
No one was inside the building at the time, he said, and fortunately no one was hurt.
“We’re still shaken up a little bit,” he said Saturday afternoon, having spent the morning with fellow church members at Bethel AME as part of that church’s weekly food pantry.
Cousin said and Assistant Chief Jacobson confirmed that city detectives canvassed the scene and found 11 shell casings of .40 caliber bullets nearby.
“I don’t think the church was targeted,” Jacobson said. He noted that, roughly two weeks ago, still another nonfatal shooting took place nearby, on Goffe Street between Orchard and Sperry. That shooting sent a 16-year-old to the hospital.