New England mall shooting happened after men ‘got into a beef,' officials say

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7 days ago

A shooting at a Connecticut mall that left five adults injured Tuesday afternoon stemmed from two men who 'got into a beef,' according to officials.
'It was not a random act of violence, it was two young men who knew each other, had a history and a past,' Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski, Jr. said during a press conference Wednesday.
'Instead of having, at one time what would have been a fist fight, because he was armed came out with a pistol,' the mayor said.
The incident occurred at the Brass Mill Center Mall in Waterbury shortly before 4:45 p.m. on May 27, Waterbury police said in a Facebook post.
Police identified the suspected gunman as 19-year-old Tajuan Washington, of Waterbury, through watching surveillance footage. He was arrested and charged with five counts of assault and various weapons violations Tuesday evening. Washington was being held on a $2 million bond. He was expected to appear in court later in the day Wednesday.
Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo recalled the 'chaotic scene' during the Wednesday press conference.
Spagnolo said officers found the five victims in a state of panic as they were unsure if there was still an active shooter in the mall. Authorities said Washington knew all the victims.
However, it was later determined that the suspected gunman had made his way through the mall, exited through the JC Penny and left shortly after the assault, Spagnolo said.
Meanwhile all five victims, whose ages range from 18 to mid-20s, were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. As of Tuesday morning, three of the five people were out of the hospital.
The two remaining people were said to be in stable condition. The most severe injury was one woman who shot in the spine, according to Pernerewski, Jr. However, the mayor said she is starting to regain feeling in her legs and will undergo rehabilitation to hopefully avoid paralysis.
'We are very shaken to have this happen here in Waterbury, but we're not broken,' Pernerewski said at the press conference. 'This is a strong city and we are very much standing together in times of crisis.'
The mayor reassured the public that the shooting was a 'one-off incident' and that the mall and city are safe. He also said officials plan on discussing new safety and security plans to help keep the mall safe.
The mall was closed Wednesday, and will be closed indefinitely, as authorities continued their investigation.
'We are working in full cooperation with the Waterbury Police Department and local officials as they investigate this unfortunate incident,' a Brass Mill Center spokesperson said in a statement sent to WFSB.
'There is no ongoing threat to the public and we will open under normal operating hours once cleared by the city,' the statement read. 'We extend our sincere gratitude to the local emergency responders for their prompt action and will continue to closely monitor the situation.'
Officials have yet to find the involved weapon, but Spagnolo said Washington used a handgun in the shooting.
Anyone with information about it is urged to call Waterbury detectives at [phone] or share an anonymous tip by calling [phone].
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