2 Charged In Drive-By Shooting In Middletown: Police

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Two men have been arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting that injured a woman last November in Middletown, according to police.

The shooting, which police said was later determined to be gang-related, happened Nov. 3 in the area of lower Washington Street near its intersection with Melilli Plaza.

A 23-year-old woman who was driving one of the vehicles was struck multiple times by shots fired from a passing vehicle, according to police. The woman driver was injured but survived, police said.

The woman’s boyfriend, Zahrod Jackson, who was previously arrested on a possession of a firearm during the incident, was a passenger in her vehicle and was believed to be the intended target, according to police.

Marion Nesmith-Ortiz, 18, of Meriden, and Damajh Privott, 22, of Middletown, were identified as suspects following an extensive investigation and arrested, according to police.

Middletown police worked closely with the Meriden Police Department who assisted by taking Nesmith-Ortiz and Privott into custody, officials said.

Privott was charged with first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, commission of an A, B, or C felony with a firearm, weapon in a vehicle and unlawful discharge of a firearm. He was being held in lieu of a $1 million bond with a court date of April 19.

Nesmith-Ortiz was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, commission of an A, B, or C felony with a firearm, weapon in a vehicle, and aiding in the commission of first-degree assault. He was held in lieu of a $500,000 bond.