Supporters of victim, suspect clash at murder arraignment
BRIDGEPORT — Nearly a dozen people clashed in the courtroom Friday as a local man was about to be arraigned for murder.
An errant remark in the crowd led to supporters of the defendant and victim leaping at each other from the court pews.
Judicial marshals rushed to the scene and evacuated the courtroom as they worked to separate the combatants.
Two men were taken into custody and later turned over to state police for arrest. There were no apparent injuries.
Robert Sorrells Jr., whose son, Robert “Took” Sorrells III was being arraigned for murder, later said the clash was started by “outside agitators.”
“It’s a lie, my son didn’t kill anybody,” the senior Sorrells added.
The younger Sorrells, 27, of High Ridge Drive, was arrested Thursday night and accused of fatally shooting 29-year-old Jonathan Dasilva on Oct. 2.
Sorrells, who is on probation, was charged with murder, criminal possession of a pistol, carrying a pistol without a permit and illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle.
Later, during Sorrells’ arraignment, Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton ordered Sorrells held in lieu of $2 million bond and continued the case to Nov. 9.
“That’s crazy,” Sorrells exclaimed, looking back at a now severely depleted gallery and a line of marshals.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, shortly after 4 a.m. on Oct 2, police responding to a ShotSpotter activation for 19 gunshots found Dasilva lying in a pool of blood on Arctic Street. He had been shot multiple times in the torso and lower extremities, the affidavit states.
The affidavit continues that police reviewed the surveillance video from local businesses. In that video they observed Dasilva walking south on Arctic Street when he suddenly reached out and punched another man with his left hand.
As the punched man falls to the ground, the affidavit states that an arm with a gun emerges from the front passenger side of a parked Mercedes sedan and begins firing at Dasilva. Dasilva attempted to flee but fell to the ground.
Some hours later, the affidavit states that the Mercedes, which was previously reported stolen, was found burning in a wooded lot in Woodbridge.
The affidavit states police detectives subsequently received information that Sorrells was involved in the shooting. A record of his cell phone confirmed he had been at the scene at the time, the affidavit states.