New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Mayor: Saturday shootings ‘isolated incidents’
ANSONIA — One man is in critical condition and another in stable condition after two early morning shootings in the city, according to police officials on Saturday.
Ansonia police were called shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday for a complaint of a dispute and possible gunfire in the area of 232 Main St., said Lt. Patrick Lynch in a news release. The address is home to 232 On Main Latin & Soul Food Restaurant.
Mayor David Cassetti said in a statement later Saturday night that he will be meeting with police and building officials to “close 232 Main St. until further notice,” after news of the shootings.
While officers responded to the area of the restaurant, police got a separate complaint of shots fired and someone hit by gunfire in the area of High Street and Lester Street.
The shootings happened within half a mile of each other. Lynch said investigators have not yet determined whether the two shootings are connected.
Cassetti said police believe the shootings were “isolated incidents.”
“Please know that we are all continuing to work together to do everything we can to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents,” Cassetti said.
On Lester Street, officers found that numerous shots had been fired, several of which hit an occupied home and wounded a 27-year-old man. Officers found several shell casings on the street. Lynch said the 27-year-old was shot in the shoulder. He was transported to an area hospital and was reported to be in stable condition.
Soon after, Derby police called Ansonia police about a shooting victim who turned up at Griffin Hospital’s emergency room. Lynch said the victim, a 40-year-old Ansonia man, was the one who was shot on Main Street.
He was shot once in the upper torso and was transferred to an area hospital for further treatment where he was reported to be in critical condition, Lynch said. He said evidence from this shooting was collected by officers at 232 Main St.
Detectives continue to investigate both shootings.
“I want to reassure our residents that Chief (Andrew) Cota and the Ansonia Police Department are doing everything they can to investigate and bring a swift resolution to the recent shootings that occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning,” Cassetti said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Ansonia police at 203-735-1885 or submit tips online at www.tip411.com/people/ sign_in.