New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Warrant: Slaying victim had broken up with suspect that day
NEW HAVEN — Brianna Triplett, charged with murder in the death of Dwaneia Turner, allegedly told police they were involved in an altercation before she fired the shots that fatally wounded the New Haven woman, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
Triplett was charged with murder, first-degree reckless endangerment and unlawful use of a firearm Tuesday by New Haven police.
She previously had been charged with first-degree assault in connection with the March 16 incident, during which another woman also was wounded.
An arrest warrant affidavit signed by New Haven police Detective Cherelle Carr detailing the investigation that
prompted the murder charge was on file in the Church Street courthouse Wednesday.
According to the affidavit, Triplett called 911 on the night of March 16, telling dispatchers that her girlfriend, Turner — identified as Victim 1 in the report — had attacked her.
She allegedly told police during the call that she had shot Turner, who was now bleeding on the ground, and said she believed Turner had stopped breathing, according to the warrant affidavit.
Police found four 9 mm cartridges, a firearm that Triplett reportedly was holding when officers arrived, a chef’s knife and a knife sheath at the scene, according to the warrant affidavit.
On March 17, Triplett spoke with police about the incident, according to the document.
Triplett told police she had been in a relationship with Turner for approximately two-and-a-half years; they had argued earlier in the day, at which time Turner ended their relationship and Triplett left their residence, according to the warrant affidavit.
“Triplett explained, throughout the day she and Victim #1 argued with each other through telephone calls and text messages. When she returned to (the) residence, she found her personal belongings packed, and Victim #1 continued to ask her to leave. Triplett stated that she left the residence to get something to eat and returned at approximately 10:00pm,” Carr wrote in the warrant affidavit.
Triplett told detectives that she had parked near the intersection of Legion Avenue and Auburn Street and when Turner and a friend arrived, Turner, who was screaming, got out of the car with a bag in her hand, according to the warrant affidavit.
Triplett told police Turner hit her in the face with a closed fist, and poured chocolate syrup on her, so Triplett began “fighting back to defend herself,” Carr wrote in the affidavit.
Triplett told police she heard Turner ask the friend to get a knife, at which time Triplett “immediately went to retrieve her handgun” from her vehicle.
Triplett told police she heard her right rear tire being punctured and that was “when she began shooting, she believed Victim #1 was coming towards her, and she didn’t know what Victim #1 was going to do,” Carr wrote in the warrant affidavit. “Triplett then acknowledged she never saw Victim #1 with the knife, but she believed that she had the knife in her hand.”
Triplett told police she fired “warning shots” to get Turner to move back, as she felt threatened, then told police she continued to fire “out of impulse” as Turner moved away, according to the warrant affidavit.
The friend told police she had spoken with Turner about the relationship dispute throughout the day. On the evening of March 16, she picked Turner up; they drove around the city and talked about the situation.
The friend told police that, back at the house, she separated Triplett and Turner physically, but Triplett allegedly hit Turner and they began fighting again, according to the warrant affidavit. Turner said “where is my knife,” the woman told police, then picked a knife off the ground and punctured Triplett’s tire.
She told police she did not see Turner walk toward Triplett with the knife..
The firearm at the scene was later determined to be registered to Triplett, according to the affidavit.
Triplett is next scheduled to appear in court April 16, according to judicial records. She previously pleaded not guilty to the first-degree assault charge; she has not entered a plea regarding the other three charges.
During a vigil last month, Turner was recalled as a joyous, spirited young woman and a mother of two who was funny and outspoken, a good and willing cook who doted on children.
Tache White, Turner’s older sister, described her as a “fun and loving person.”
Turner is one of nine victims of homicides this year in New Haven.
Alfreda Youmans, Jeffery Dotson, Jorge Osorio-Caballero, Marquis Winfrey, Joseph Mattei, Kevin Jiang, Angel Rodriguez and Alessia Mesquita also were killed in the city so far in 2021.