Police: Warrant issued in July slaying

Suspect, a 22-year-old city man, currently incarcerated on other charges

NEW HAVEN — The goal is to bring justice to the families of all homicide victims, Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said.

In the case of which Reyes was speaking Wednesday, Howard K. Lewis, a Hamden resident, died in July when he was shot through the windshield of his car while it was parked on Munson Street, police said.

Now, city police have obtained a warrant charging Jaison J. Flowers, 22, of New Haven, with murder and criminal possession of a firearm, Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson said.

Flowers allegedly killed

Lewis, 40, on Munson Street July 14 while the victim’s 15year-old son and 18-year-old brother were in the vehicle parked in front of a home. The teenagers were not wounded. Lewis was rushed to the hospital but died later, police said.

In speaking Wednesday about the arrest warrant, Jacobson said Flowers allegedly was firing at another target, not Lewis, based on “information obtained from a formal interview” that “confirmed Flowers as the shooter.”

Jacobson, Reyes and Mayor Justin Elicker offered condolences to Lewis’ family during a press conference about the case, held on Zoom.

Members of Lewis’ family joined the Zoom call, including his wife and parents, but declined to comment or answer

questions.

“We hope this brings some sort of closure to the family and we thank the family for being with us,” said Jacobson.

“I know there are families out there that have not had closure for the loss of their family members. This case is symbolic of the hard work of the men and women of this department, but also that we do not give up on these cases,” said Reyes.

“Our goal is to be able to bring justice to every family member that has lost a loved one in our city,” he said.

Reyes said the department thanks the family “for their support, their

patience, and for standing with us our detectives throughout the process.”

“We know this doesn’t bring Mr. Lewis back, but we hope that the department has been able to bring you a measure of closure and help you in the process of healing from the loss of your loved one,” Reyes said.

Elicker told the family, “You deserve that sense of justice (that comes with the charges), but you never deserved what happened to Mr. Lewis.

... We’re here for you and we’ll continue to be here for you.”

“We’re so sorry for your loss,” Elicker said.

The chiefs thanked the department for its efforts in the matter, including Detective Daniel Conklin, who investigated the case.

Conklin said it was a collaborative

effort by multiple units.

“The entire detective bureau stepped up,” said Conklin.

Flowers, currently incarcerated for a probation violation, is set to be held in lieu of a $1 million court-set bond when the department’s arrest warrant is served, Capt. Anthony Duff said in a statement.

There were two other shootings and another homicide on July 14, Jacobson noted. Those incidents are believed to be unrelated to the slaying of Lewis, he said.

Reyes said detectives were continuing to work open homicide cases, noting the department would not forget about those killed and “work tirelessly” to bring to justice those who commit violence.

Flowers