5th Arrest Made In Fatal Shooting In Middletown: Police

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A fifth person has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man in Middletown in May, according to police. A 17-year-old boy was also injured in the shooting.

Matthew O'Banner, 20, is accused of killing Tylon Hardy in a May 16 shooting in the area of Highlands Crescent and Stirling Court in Middletown. O'Banner, of Stirling Court, was taken into custody at a home in New Jersey in August and extradited to Middletown. He is being held in lieu of a $2 million bond with his next court date scheduled for Dec. 14, according to state judicial records.

A person who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting was arrested Nov. 4 on a warrant, police announced this week. He was charged with criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, unlawful discharge of a firearm and carrying a handgun without a permit.

He was taken into juvenile detention and released after posting bond, according to police.

Three other people have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting.

O'Banner's mother, Michelle Sanders, was arrested Aug. 9 on a warrant in connection with the homicide, according to police. Sanders, 54, is accused of hindering the investigation, tampering with evidence, interfering with officers and other charges in connection with the homicide. She was initially held in lieu of a $250,000 bond, according to police.

O'Banner's girlfriend, 21-year-old Alexandra Vazquez, was taken into custody Aug. 25 on an arrest warrant. Vazquez, of Stirling Court, is accused of interfering with the investigation, according to police. She was initially held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

Police said Nahkyn Durazzo, 21, was present and involved in the shooting that led to Hardy's death. He was taken into custody on June 3 by Middletown detectives with the assistance of Adult Probation Officers. He was charged with violation of probation and held in lieu of a $75,000 bond.