Police identify victim in fatal Norwich shooting

— Police have identified Norwich resident Anthony Lashawn Williams, 39, as the victim of Tuesday’s fatal shooting.

In a Wednesday night news release, the Norwich Police Department said Williams was the subject of a targeted attack. About 4:30 p.m. Tuesday police responded to the Lake Street area for a report of a shooting. Williams was transported to Backus Hospital, where he died, city police said in an early Wednesday morning news release.

Police said they are investigating the incident as a homicide.

Lake Street in Norwich was entirely blocked off, and several cruisers and a police van remained on scene shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday. Officers could be seen on the street with flashlights and taking photos. Residents who were not too close to the scene were allowed back into their homes, but the street remained blocked off. There was a section of police tape at a nearby property at Broad and Boswell streets. State police confirmed Tuesday evening they were participating in the search for a suspect involved in the shooting.

An officer who was on scene Wednesday morning said that the shooting happened near 36 Lake St., where two police vehicles were stationed. The street was open to traffic after being blocked off all night.

Neighbors were gathered on the sidewalks and in the street

Wednesday morning, talking about the shooting. Multiple neighbors, who declined to give their names, said the man who was killed had just been released from prison Tuesday. Judicial Branch records indicate that in February, Williams was sentenced for recent convictions of driving under the influence, violation of probation, breach of peace, assault and reckless endangerment.

The area where the shooting occurred is just around the corner from a park and playground where kids were playing Wednesday as police sat watch on the street. One neighbor said she was at the park with her 9-year-old sister when they heard three shots ring out about 3:30 or 4 p.m. They thought the sounds were fireworks. They stayed at the park for about an hour and didn’t see any police.

“You didn’t feel comfortable living on this block anymore; every time you turn around, it’s always something,” one neighbor said to another.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about Williams’ shooting is asked to contact Detective Dennis Bialowas at (860) 886-5561, ext. 3157, or by email at dbialowas@ cityofnorwich.org. Information also can be conveyed anonymously through the department’s tip line, (860) 886-5561, ext. 4.

Police also still are searching for the killer of Edward Mcintyre, 66, who was found dead about 1:45 p.m. on June 10 inside his home at 52 Laurel Hill Ave., Apt. 3, according to police.

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