The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Woman slain in Hill section
NEW HAVEN >> Police are investigating an early Saturday morning homicide in which a female victim was shot to death.
Police spokesman Officer David Hartman said officers were dispatched at 1:36 a.m. to 66 Second St. after a caller to 911 reported hearing several gunshots.
Officers located a woman who had been shot in the torso. The victim, who is in her 40s, was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to Hartman.
The victim had been found outside, at the rear of the building. Detectives found several bullet casings in the snow.
While police Saturday afternoon hadn’t released the victim’s name, her family members, who were comforting one another at the scene, identified her as Mary Jane Townsend.
As police combed the scene looking for evidence Saturday, several of the victim’s relatives stood by in the cold weather hoping to learn more about what happened.
“She was a beautiful person and very sweet,” the victim’s mother, Barbara Townsend said. “She would do whatever she could for anyone. I would like to know who killed my daughter and why.”
The victim’s family said she was a mother and grandmother, someone who would try to console people if they were sad, and who always had a kind word.
Relatives said they couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to harm her.
Police are investigating the possibility of a connection between a vehicle pursued by police from the shooting scene to West Haven and the shooting itself. A witness at the scene identified the car as being similar to one seen leaving the area after the shooting, according to Hartman.
New Haven Police lost sight of the vehicle during the pursuit. However, the vehicle was later located on Gretta Street in West Haven, where it had crashed.
The vehicle’s male operator was transported to YaleNew Haven Hospital, where he was being guarded Saturday morning by police, pending an interview with detectives. The man’s injuries are considered to be serious, according to Hartman.
At this time, detectives are in the beginning stages of their investigation, Hartman said. The pursuit and homicide have not been confirmed to be connected, Hartman said.
The shooting happened near Eddy’s Food Center on Howard Avenue, and the business was part of the area that was closed off An emergency response vehicle sits beside the site where a woman was fatally shot on Second Street in New Haven. while police investigated Saturday. Police turned customers away during their investigation.
Dolores Colon, alderwoman of Ward 6, which includes the area where the murder happened, said Saturday, “It is a very sad and tragic situation.”
“I am sure it is scaring many people,” Colon said. “I am waiting for more information, such as if this was committed by a stranger or if the person knew the victim. My heart goes out to the family and friends of the victim. I hope this was an isolated incident, and the police find whoever is guilty of taking this person’s life.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact detectives at 203-946-6304.