New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Mother of man killed in Orange calls for no further violence
NEW HAVEN – The mother of a man fatally shot at Town Fair Tire in Orange Saturday said she does not want to see any further violence.
Rebecca Berrocales, mother of Joshwua Figueroa Berrocales, 27, said she is finding comfort in her strong faith in the wake of her son’s death.
“We are a very religious family,” she said through a interpreter. “God gives life and God takes life away.”
Terrance Allen, 24, of New Haven, the Town Fair Tire employee who police suspect fatally shot Joshwua Berrocales at the Orange store over the weekend was arraigned on a violation of probation charge Monday at Superior Court in Milford. Allen had bail set at $100,000 by Judge Maureen Dennis.
While police allege Allen shot Figueroa Berrocales “multiple times,” he had not been charged in the shooting as of Tuesday morning.
Figueroa Berrocales, allegedly was shot by Allen after showing up at Town Fair Saturday before 9 a.m. to see Allen, according to police. A Town Fair Tire spokesman said after the shooting that he was told Figueroa Berrocales had a gun.
The family said Berrocales and Allen
were not friends but knew one another and had an issue the day before. One of Figueroa Berrocales’ sisters, Taryana Berrocales, 29, speculated her brother went to Town Fair Tire to smooth things over with Allen.
“He (her brother) called me and told me something happened the day before,” she said.
She said brother Joshwua told her “not to worry.”
While Berrocales’ last name has been listed by police as Figueroa, the family said the correct name is Joshwua Figueroa Berrocales.
Allen, who is an auto technician
at the store, was working when a man carrying a gun, later identified as Berrocales, walked in the rear door, a Town Fair Tire spokesperson has said. The spokesperson said the store manager was standing outside when he heard a “pop, pop, pop.” The manager ran inside and found a man dead on the floor with Allen standing there holding two guns, the spokesperson said.
‘“He had a gun. It was he or me,’” Allen told his manager, according to the spokesperson.
Allen was arrested “on the violation of probation warrant at this time while the shooting investigation continues,” Orange Assistant Police Chief Max Martins said Monday.
Police Monday were still un
certain about “the nature of the dispute and the relationship between the two men.”
Allen will be assigned a public defender and his next hearing was set for June 15 in New Haven.
As Joshwua Berrocales’ family priced gravestones and made funeral arrangements, they described him as “loving” and as “caring.”
“He loved everybody,” a younger brother, Erick Jusino, 19, said. “There’s no explaining the pain you feel. It’s like a part of you died with him.”
Figueroa Berrocales, who had two young stepdaughters, was between jobs because of COVID-19, and was a songwriter, singer and rapper, his family said.
Rebecca Berrocales said her late son, as well as her other six children, were raised in the church. She doesn’t want to see “violence,” Rebecca Berrocales said.
Rebecca Berrocales said she is asking God to “forgive him” (Allen) and doesn’t hold any anger, although she would like to see justice.
The family has started a GoFundMe campaign to raised money for his funeral expenses. Erick Jusino said any and all donations are appreciated. As of Monday they had raised $1,730 of their $12,000 goal.
Anyone with information about the matter is asked to call the Orange Police Department at 203-891-2130, referring to case number 20-41725.