Latest news with #Spagnolo
San Francisco Chronicle
28-05-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Man charged in Connecticut mall shooting that wounded 5 as lawyer claims self-defense
A 19-year-old man was charged with assault and weapons crimes after he allegedly shot five people at a Connecticut mall during a dispute, authorities said Wednesday. Tajuan Washington, who was free on $20,000 bail on unrelated motor vehicle charges, drove to police headquarters while officers were surveilling him and surrendered following Tuesday's shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, city Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said during a news conference. The injuries were not life-threatening, officials said. The shooting shortly after 4:30 p.m. sent mall patrons scrambling for safety. Dozens of law enforcement officers responded and searched the mall for hours. Police identified Washington on security video, seeing him leave the mall and drive away, then surveilled his home, Spagnolo said. Washington was ordered detained on $2 million bond as he was arraigned in court Wednesday on charges including first-degree assault, criminal use of a weapon, illegal discharge of a firearm and risk of injury to children. His lawyer, public defender Justin Chan, said he believed Washington was defending himself and added Washington had been traumatized by losing a relative to gun violence. Chan also said there were no convictions on Washington's record. Lawrence Adler, a lawyer for Washington on the motor vehicle charges that include interfering with police, said Washington denies those allegations and called the case insignificant. He said he did not know much about the mall shooting. 'There's nothing about his past to lead anyone to say this kid's on a path to hurting people,' Adler said. Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr. said three people have been discharged from the hospital and two were still being treated. The person most seriously injured, a woman who was shot in the spine, had regained some feeling in her extremities, and officials were hoping she isn't permanently paralyzed, he said. Washington and a man who was with four young women got into a dispute, and Washington pulled a pistol, Pernerewski said. 'It was in effect two young men who knew each other, had a history and a past,' the mayor said. The city was shaken but not broken, Pernerewski said. 'This is a strong city, and we are very much standing together in times of crisis," he said. "We support and we care for one another.' Spagnolo did not release details of the dispute, saying it was not entirely clear but police had some idea what it was about. Spagnolo said evidence indicated the shooter used a .40-caliber handgun, which had not been found. Police with a search warrant seized two rifles and found ammunition at Washington's home that matched ammunition at the mall, Spagnolo said. Police surveilling Washington's home followed him as he drove to police headquarters to report he had been involved in the dispute, Spagnolo said. It was shocking that a dispute that might have just been a fistfight became a shooting instead, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said at the news conference. 'Someone pulls out a semiautomatic and shoots seven rounds and badly wounds five people like that — just like that,' Lamont said. Police and witnesses described the chaos of people crying and running, others locking themselves inside areas of the mall, and swarms of police searching for the shooter. Jayvon Turner told WFSB-TV that one of the victims was bleeding heavily. 'It was crazy, and I tried to tell everybody to get out of there," he said. Court records show Washington was accepted into a probation program earlier this year for another set of charges, which have been sealed from public view under the state law for that program, which is generally for first-time offenders. In October, local media reported that Washington was arrested by state police on allegations of driving more than 100 mph (160 kph) on Interstate 84 in Southington. State police said Washington sped away from a trooper who tried to pull him over, and the trooper ended the pursuit for safety reasons. He was later arrested when police traced the speeding car's registration to his home, troopers said.
28-05-2025
Man charged in Connecticut mall shooting that wounded 5
A 19-year-old man was charged with assault and weapons crimes after he allegedly shot five people at a Connecticut mall during a dispute, authorities said Wednesday. Tajuan Washington, who was free on $20,000 bail on unrelated motor vehicle charges, drove to police headquarters under police surveillance and surrendered following Tuesday's shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, city Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said during a news conference. The injuries were not life-threatening, officials said. The shooting shortly after 4:30 p.m. sent mall patrons scrambling for safety. Dozens of law enforcement officers responded and searched the mall for hours. Police identified Washington on security video, seeing him leave the mall and drive away, Spagnolo said. Washington was detained on $2 million bond and was expected to appear in court Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer for the shooting case who could respond to the allegations. Lawrence Adler, a lawyer for Washington on the motor vehicle charges that include interfering with police, said Washington denies those allegations and called the case insignificant. He said he did not know much about the mall shooting. 'There's nothing about his past to lead anyone to say this kid's on a path to hurting people,' Adler said. Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr. said three people have been discharged from the hospital and two were still being treated. The person most seriously injured, a woman who was shot in the spine, had regained some feeling in her extremities and officials were hoping she isn't permanently paralyzed, he said. Washington and a man who was with four young women got into a dispute and Washington pulled a pistol, Pernerewski said. 'It was in effect two young men who knew each other, had a history and a past,' the mayor said. The city was shaken but not broken, Pernerewski said. 'This is a strong city, and we are very much standing together in times of crisis," he said. "We support and we care for one another.' Spagnolo did not release details of the dispute, saying it was not entirely clear but police had some idea what it was about. Spagnolo said evidence indicated the shooter used a .40-caliber handgun, which had not been found. Police with a search warrant seized two rifles and found ammunition at Washington's home that matched some ammunition at the mall, Spagnolo said. Police surveilling Washington's home followed him as he drove to police headquarters to report he had been involved in the dispute, Spagnolo said. It was shocking that a dispute that might have just been a fistfight became a shooting instead, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said at the news conference. 'Someone pulls out a semiautomatic and shoots seven rounds and badly wounds five people like that — just like that,' Lamont said. Police and witnesses described the chaos of people crying and running, others locking themselves inside areas of the mall, and swarms of police searching for the shooter. Jayvon Turner told WFSB-TV that one of the victims was bleeding heavily. 'It was crazy and I tried to tell everybody to get out of there," he said. Court records show Washington was accepted into a probation program earlier this year for another set of charges, which have been sealed from public view under the state law for that program, which is generally for first-time offenders. The Brass Mill Center is located off Interstate 84 in Waterbury, about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) southwest of Hartford, the state capital. Spagnolo said police have used the mall for active shooter drills in the past, and that helped officers during the response.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man charged in Connecticut mall shooting that wounded 5
A 19-year-old man was charged with assault and weapons crimes after he allegedly shot five people at a Connecticut mall during a dispute, authorities said Wednesday. Tajuan Washington, who was free on $20,000 bail on unrelated motor vehicle charges, drove to police headquarters under police surveillance and surrendered following Tuesday's shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, city Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said during a news conference. The injuries were not life-threatening, officials said. The shooting shortly after 4:30 p.m. sent mall patrons scrambling for safety. Dozens of law enforcement officers responded and searched the mall for hours. Police identified Washington on security video, seeing him leave the mall and drive away, Spagnolo said. Washington was detained on $2 million bond and was expected to appear in court Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer for the shooting case who could respond to the allegations. Lawrence Adler, a lawyer for Washington on the motor vehicle charges that include interfering with police, said Washington denies those allegations and called the case insignificant. He said he did not know much about the mall shooting. 'There's nothing about his past to lead anyone to say this kid's on a path to hurting people,' Adler said. Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr. said three people have been discharged from the hospital and two were still being treated. The person most seriously injured, a woman who was shot in the spine, had regained some feeling in her extremities and officials were hoping she isn't permanently paralyzed, he said. Washington and a man who was with four young women got into a dispute and Washington pulled a pistol, Pernerewski said. 'It was in effect two young men who knew each other, had a history and a past,' the mayor said. The city was shaken but not broken, Pernerewski said. 'This is a strong city, and we are very much standing together in times of crisis," he said. "We support and we care for one another.' Spagnolo did not release details of the dispute, saying it was not entirely clear but police had some idea what it was about. Spagnolo said evidence indicated the shooter used a .40-caliber handgun, which had not been found. Police with a search warrant seized two rifles and found ammunition at Washington's home that matched some ammunition at the mall, Spagnolo said. Police surveilling Washington's home followed him as he drove to police headquarters to report he had been involved in the dispute, Spagnolo said. It was shocking that a dispute that might have just been a fistfight became a shooting instead, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said at the news conference. 'Someone pulls out a semiautomatic and shoots seven rounds and badly wounds five people like that — just like that,' Lamont said. Police and witnesses described the chaos of people crying and running, others locking themselves inside areas of the mall, and swarms of police searching for the shooter. Jayvon Turner told WFSB-TV that one of the victims was bleeding heavily. 'It was crazy and I tried to tell everybody to get out of there," he said. Court records show Washington was accepted into a probation program earlier this year for another set of charges, which have been sealed from public view under the state law for that program, which is generally for first-time offenders. The Brass Mill Center is located off Interstate 84 in Waterbury, about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) southwest of Hartford, the state capital. Spagnolo said police have used the mall for active shooter drills in the past, and that helped officers during the response.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New England mall shooting happened after men ‘got into a beef,' officials say
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 (203) 574-6941 or share an anonymous tip by calling (203) 755-1234. After four decades, Cornucopia prepares to leave Northampton Mass. Gov. Healey slams ICE over migrant arrests on Nantucket, Vineyard E-bike rider killed in collision in Springfield Springfield's budget maintains parks, libraries despite economic concerns No more 'fricking barber poles': Gov. Healey says as Mass. looks to shred regs Read the original article on MassLive.
Winnipeg Free Press
28-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Man charged in Connecticut mall shooting that wounded 5
A 19-year-old man was charged with assault and weapons crimes after he allegedly shot five people at a Connecticut mall during a dispute, authorities said Wednesday. Tajuan Washington, who was free on $20,000 bail on unrelated motor vehicle charges, drove to police headquarters under police surveillance and surrendered following Tuesday's shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, city Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said during a news conference. The injuries were not life-threatening, officials said. The shooting shortly after 4:30 p.m. sent mall patrons scrambling for safety. Dozens of law enforcement officers responded and searched the mall for hours. Police identified Washington on security video, seeing him leave the mall and drive away, Spagnolo said. Washington was detained on $2 million bond and was expected to appear in court Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer for the shooting case who could respond to the allegations. Lawrence Adler, a lawyer for Washington on the motor vehicle charges that include interfering with police, said Washington denies those allegations and called the case insignificant. He said he did not know much about the mall shooting. 'There's nothing about his past to lead anyone to say this kid's on a path to hurting people,' Adler said. Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr. said three people have been discharged from the hospital and two were still being treated. The person most seriously injured, a woman who was shot in the spine, had regained some feeling in her extremities and officials were hoping she isn't permanently paralyzed, he said. Washington and a man who was with four young women got into a dispute and Washington pulled a pistol, Pernerewski said. 'It was in effect two young men who knew each other, had a history and a past,' the mayor said. The city was shaken but not broken, Pernerewski said. 'This is a strong city, and we are very much standing together in times of crisis,' he said. 'We support and we care for one another.' Spagnolo did not release details of the dispute, saying it was not entirely clear but police had some idea what it was about. Spagnolo said evidence indicated the shooter used a .40-caliber handgun, which had not been found. Police with a search warrant seized two rifles and found ammunition at Washington's home that matched some ammunition at the mall, Spagnolo said. Police surveilling Washington's home followed him as he drove to police headquarters to report he had been involved in the dispute, Spagnolo said. It was shocking that a dispute that might have just been a fistfight became a shooting instead, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said at the news conference. 'Someone pulls out a semiautomatic and shoots seven rounds and badly wounds five people like that — just like that,' Lamont said. Police and witnesses described the chaos of people crying and running, others locking themselves inside areas of the mall, and swarms of police searching for the shooter. Jayvon Turner told WFSB-TV that one of the victims was bleeding heavily. 'It was crazy and I tried to tell everybody to get out of there,' he said. Court records show Washington was accepted into a probation program earlier this year for another set of charges, which have been sealed from public view under the state law for that program, which is generally for first-time offenders. The Brass Mill Center is located off Interstate 84 in Waterbury, about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) southwest of Hartford, the state capital. Spagnolo said police have used the mall for active shooter drills in the past, and that helped officers during the response.
