Thursday evening saw a shooting in New Haven’s West Hills neighborhood. Two men, one in his 20s and the other in his late 20s, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the incident. New Haven police responded to a 911 call and found the men. Both were treated at the Yale New Haven Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The shooting remains under investigation, but anyone with information is encouraged to call police.
Police say they do not have a motive for the killing of an unarmed couple. While they are still investigating, police believe that the suspects have no criminal records and no evidence that suggests they planned to rob the couple. The shooting was reported at around 11:20 p.m., and the victim was found after being hit with gunfire. He later died at Yale New Haven Hospital. Ballistic evidence was collected at the scene by the Bureau of Identification. The Bureau of Identification assisted police in investigating the shooting.
Since the shooting, many have called for police to step up patrols in the area. Police have also increased the number of officers. One suspect fired about 15 shots toward an open space between two buildings. The incident resulted in the lockdown of the Regional Mayo Early Learning Center. The school was quickly cleared of the incident. While the shooting was unprovoked, police have good leads on the suspect, based on surveillance video.
New Haven’s Shooting Task Force has increased its efforts to combat gun violence. The group currently works in several neighborhoods and includes Black and Latino men who go around the neighborhoods and talk to residents about their concerns. Partnering with other departments is a way to reduce violence in the city. Acting Chief Renee Dominguez says the expanded police force will also allow the team to work on reopening cold cases.
While police continue their investigation, the victim’s family and friends are celebrating the arrest. The two men have not ruled out the possibility of retribution. The victim, Treizy Lopez, had a criminal history and was convicted of two counts of murder in 2010 and 2011. Police thanked the members of the community who provided information. Knox, a New Haven native, said that he hopes the shooting will inspire others.