2nd Person Dies In Route 15 Shooting In Hamden: State Police

HAMDEN, CT — A second person has died after a shooting on Route 15 in Hamden early New Year’s Day, Connecticut State Police said in an update Friday.

Troopers responded around 2:25 a.m. on Jan. 1 to a report of people in a vehicle who had sustained gunshot wounds on Route 15 South in the area of Exit 60 in Hamden.

Arriving troopers found Adrian Lopez, 23, of Bridgeport, in the driver’s seat with an apparent gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, state police said.

The three other occupants were taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Investigators were told that Qualon Wilkes, 22, of Bridgeport, died at the hospital on Thursday, according to police.

The Connecticut Post reports that Wilkes had worked as a substitute teacher for Bridgeport’s public schools.

Taquan Donald, 20, of Bridgeport, was also injured in the shooting, police said. A fourth person was uninjured.

Police said the investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information or who has a vehicle equipped with a dashcam and was driving through the area at the time of the incident is asked to contact CDMC Troop I at 203-393-4243. All calls will remain confidential.