Hamden House Party Shooting: Suspect Remains At-Large, 5 Victims

HAMDEN, CT — The suspect in Friday night's mass shooting at a Choate Avenue home that left five people injured remains at-large, Hamden Police Capt. Ronald Smith said. And law enforcement officials now believe the mass Hamden shooting may be connected to a shooting that occurred in New Haven on Thompson Street, which left an 8-year-old boy injured, according to Hearst Connecticut.

The boy was struck by a bullet while inside his house just before midnight Friday, reports Fox 61. The incident occurred on Thompson Street in the Newhallville section of the city. The child suffered a leg wound as a result of the shooting and is expected to recover, the Register reports.

New Haven Police say they believe the two shootings are connected and both agencies are working together to find the suspect(s), the New Haven Register reports.

Hamden Police are urging residents to come forward with information and they are specifically seeking video or surveillance footage that would assist their investigation.

Hamden Police were still canvassing the Choate Avenue neighborhood Saturday in an attempt to locate additional evidence relating to the shooting, Smith said. Police officers and the and K-9 Unit were involved.

The five Hamden shooting victims are:

• An 18-year-old New Haven resident. She suffered a gunshot wound in the area of her right flank.
• A 19-year-old Bridgeport resident. She suffered a gunshot wound to her buttocks.
• A 20-year-old New Haven resident. He suffered a gunshot wound to his arm.
• A 21-year-old Hamden resident. She suffered a gunshot wound to her foot.
• A 23-year-old New Haven resident. He suffered a gunshot wound to his thigh.

Three people were released from the hospital as of Saturday afternoon and two remain hospitalized but are expected to recover, police said. All of the victims attended the party, police said.

Prior to Friday night’s shooting, at 7:20 p.m., Hamden Police were called to an Exeter Road home concerning a trespassing complaint. The homeowner told police that several people were walking on her front lawn, police said. Police had said there were reports of people drunkenly passed out on lawns.

An officer saw numerous motor vehicles parked in the area and there was “a large party at 937 Choate Avenue,” Smith said. The officer concluded that while there were a large number of guests, “the music was not unreasonably loud,” police said. An estimated 500-plus people were at the party.

Police stressed that the homeowner and guests were extremely cooperative. The officer told the homeowner to ask the guests to leave by 10 p.m. and the homeowner offered to send guests home by 9 p.m. The shooting broke out while police were on the scene around 8:45 p.m.

Police say the suspect was an attendee at the party and the motive remains unknown at this time. The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male in his early 20s with a thin build, “pock-marked face,” a small amount of hair on chin, wearing a black hat (backwards), T-shirt and blue jeans, police said. Police released no new additional information concerning the suspect on Saturday.

According to a flyer promoting the house party, there was going to be DJ, pool party and $5 cover fee but ladies who wore "thong bikinis" would get in for free.

Mayor Curt Balzano Leng praised emergency responders saying "lives were saved" due to their extraordinary response. Leng said massive parties like the one last night don't belong in Hamden at a private residence and he said the town will work to ensure that large parties do not occur at local homes. He said police learned of a massive planned party for next month and that has already been shut down.

“I am so very thankful that the victims involved are all expected to make a full recovery, they along with their families will remain in my prayers. Our Hamden Police and Fire Departments acted swiftly with the level of care and professionalism that saves lives. I am very, very thankful for their service and dedication," Leng said. "Through the assistance of Hamden’s partnership with the CT Violence Intervention Partners, the town has engaged our Street Outreach Workers to help prevent any additional violence and assist the HPD directly in the community with this case. If anyone has any information, it would be so very helpful to share it with the Hamden Police and I beg anyone to please do that."

ORIGINAL STORY FROM FRIDAY NIGHT: HAMDEN, CT — At least five people were shot while attending a massive house party on Choate Avenue and the suspect remains at-large, Hamden Police said late Friday night. Capt. Ronald Smith said police were initially called by neighbors around 8:45 p.m. to help disperse a crowd of about 500 people that attended the house party Friday night. Police were responding to reports of drunken behavior including people passed out on lawns.

Once three or four Hamden police officers arrived, the suspect fired off several shots and there are at "least five victims," Smith said.

Four people were taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, while another person was driven to a hospital by a personal friend, police said. Police did not know the extent of the injuries suffered by the victims.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male in his early 20s with a thin build, “pock-marked face,” a small amount of hair on chin, wearing a black hat (backwards), T-shirt and blue jeans, according to Smith.

At the time of the shooting there were several Hamden Police officers present but Smith said no officers were shot at by the suspect. Cheshire, North Haven and State Police departments all assisted at the scene.

Smith said police are unsure of a motive for the shooting as of late Friday night. He stressed that the owners of the house where the party was held have been very cooperative.

According to a flyer promoting the house party, there was going to be DJ, pool party and $5 cover fee but ladies who wore "thong bikinis" would get in for free.

News of the mass shooting surfaced around 9 p.m. when Mayor Curt Balzano Leng issued an alert advising residents stay in their homes in this neighborhood and surrounding area. Complicating matters was the fact that thousands of residents had gathered in the center of town for the annual 4th of July fireworks display.

In an update around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Leng and Acting Police Chief John Cappiello are asking “all residents and anyone who might have witnessed the shooting this evening, heard anything about the issues surrounding it, have photos, names or video of the incident or information on the identity of the shooter and any other related information regarding to the shooting” on Choate Avenue, to call the Hamden Police immediately at their main desk number of 203-230-4000. Any information, large or small is appreciated. As always, in any emergency dial 911.

“The Hamden Fire and Police Departments responded swiftly to the incident, where multiple victims were injured by gunfire,” according to a post on the town’s Facebook page. “Initially there was a shelter in place ordered by Town officials for residents’ safety. The Hamden Police Department lifted the shelter in place order for residents in the West Woods neighborhood surrounding the shooting incident following their efforts surrounding the incident, and with the great cooperation of Police backup assistance swiftly sent in from North Haven, New Haven, Cheshire Police Departments, as well as the CT State Police.

“The Hamden Police Department remains on scene, and has contained the situation swiftly. Hamden PD are currently investigating the crime scene. The Town and Police Department are asking everyone to remain aware of ongoing emergency operations, crime scene collection and investigation occurring on Choate Avenue now and for the hours and possibly days ahead. The road remains closed as the crime scene is actively worked on.”

In an update, Hamden Fire Chief Gary Merwede said: “In accordance with our emergency operations plan during large events (Fireworks) we were able to shift resources to respond with medical personnel to the Choate Ave scene. The initial HFD response arrived on scene within 4 minutes and began treatment. Additional units arrived to treat 4 people with GSWs (gunshot wounds), and advanced life support was delivered on scene for the most critical patients.”

This story will be updated when more information is available.