Man, Convicted In Fatal 1998 New Haven Shooting, Gets 5 Years For Drug Trafficking After Maine Car Stop: Feds

BANGOR, ME—Cyrus Griffin was 14 and in state Department of Children and Families custody when in February of 1998, on furlough from a juvenile detention center—a Christmas furlough he never returned from—he shot and killed Tyshan Allbrooks, 18, in a New Haven convenience store. Charged by New Haven police with murder, the teen was ultimately convicted of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

It's not clear, based on state Corrections Department online data, when he was paroled. But in October 2024, at age 40, he was pulled over by Maine State Police on Interstate 95. It was a parole violation for him to be out of state. He was arrested after police found money, drugs, and a gun.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maine, a search of Griffin’s person recovered over two thousand dollars in cash and a quantity of suspected drugs.

"Inside the vehicle, Maine State Police found a handgun under the driver’s seat, drug processing paraphernalia, suspected cocaine, and suspected fentanyl," according to the DOJ. "Subsequent testing confirmed almost a pound of cocaine from the seizure and approximately 135 grams of fentanyl, as well as a suspected cutting agent and processing paraphernalia."

He was charged and pleaded guilty on April 1, 2025, to trafficking cocaine and fentanyl, per the U.S. attorney.

Tuesday, now-42-year-old Griffin, who it was reported has an arrest record dating to age 9, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann to 60 months in prison.

The DEA investigated the case, with the assistance of Maine State Police and the Maine Attorney General’s Office.