Increased Police Presence Planned After Shootings In Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — Residents will see an increased police presence in the areas affected by two shootings over the weekend and other neighborhoods for the “foreseeable future,” according to Mayor Curt Balzano Leng.

Dennis Allen-Paige, 21, was fatally shot early Sunday morning in Hamden. Police responded to Whiting Street at about 12:30 a.m. on the report of multiple shots fired and Allen-Paige was found lying in the street. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he died, according to police.

Police also responded to a report of shots fired on Saint Mary Street at about 5:15 p.m. on Dec. 7. A group of three people were hiding inside of a detached garage on Saint Mary Street and one person fired multiple shots at two people that were walking by, according to police.

No one was struck by the gunfire, but several bullets struck a nearby home and one of the rounds went through a window. A bullet went across a bedroom and embedded inside of a wall. There were three people inside of the home at the time of the shooting, according to police.

The two people who had been shot at were later arrested after they were caught stealing a car in a business parking lot.

Leng updated residents on the investigation into the weekend shootings with a post on Facebook late Monday night. Read Leng’s full post below:

While I am hoping to report additional and more detailed information soon, I want all Hamden residents to know that the Hamden Police Department Major Crimes Bureau is working around the clock following up on leads related to the homicide that occurred, as well as working the cases related to the other reports of gunfire this weekend. Additional resources have been deployed and partners have been asked and are assisting in these efforts.

Residents will see increased police presence in the affected areas and other neighborhoods for the foreseeable future. This is being done to work toward addressing what happened and to work to prevent additional violence. Hamden is actively working with our Street Outreach Workers Program partners and Leonard Jahad of CT Violence Intervention Program (CT VIP) and in cooperation and coordination with surrounding law enforcement agencies.

If you have any information regarding the homicide, any shooting activity or if you know of any potential violent actions planned, I beg you to please contact the Hamden Police by phone, stop and talk to an officer in the neighborhood or report the information completely anonymously using the Tip411 app or website.

I hope to be able to provide additional information as soon as it is both available and appropriate to discuss. Thank you for your patience as our public safety officials work hard addressing these incidents.

If you see anything out of the ordinary, as always, please also call the Police. See something, say something - it can save lives.