New Haven Family Begging For Justice To Find Young Mom's Killer

NEW HAVEN, CT — The family of a 28-year-old New Haven mother, who was shot and killed last week while her two young kids were inside her car, made a plea to the community to help police catch the suspected killer during a press conference Wednesday.

Tyekqua Nesbitt's mother and twin sister, Tashauna, were present at New Haven Police Headquarters, where police provided some case updates and a public plea for assistance in locating 41-year-old Tramaine Marquese Poole of New Haven.

"I'm standing here next to my mom," Tashauna Nesbitt said through tears, "begging and pleading for this city and the community to come together just so we can have some type of justice, so my sister can rest and her kids can feel safe."

Police said the department had obtained a warrant for Poole's arrest on the charge of murder

"I would like to take this opportunity to further extend my condolences to the family of Ms. Tyekqua Nesbitt," Chief of Police Anthony Campbell said during the conference. "I thank them for standing with us today as we bring you this news, and I hope that this arrest warrant will be the first step in bringing a sense of justice to the family, furthering the healing process which has to take place for their family and the whole of the New Haven community."

Police said Poole should be considered "armed and extremely dangerous." Anyone with information is asked to contact police immediately and warned not to attempt to approach or apprehend the accused.

"He is a threat and a menace to this community," Campbell said, "and I appeal to every member of this community to help us...bring Tramaine Poole to justice."

Campbell also implored Poole, should he be listening, to turn himself in, and said US Marshals have assisted in offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the accused's apprehension.

According to a news release, police were called to Wilmot Road at Wintergreen Avenue on Thursday, May 31, to investigate a reported shooting. Officers arrived and found a 28-year-old woman who’d been fatally shot in her car within the intersection, police said.

Police said the victim’s two young children, ages six and eleven, were in the car with her when she was shot. Detectives said they believe the victim, subsequently identified as Nesbitt, was targeted by the shooter.

Police described Poole as a black man with a medium complexion and a full (not thin) face. He is about 5'11" tall and weighs about 160 pounds.

He has short dark-brown hair, brown eyes and is clean-shaven. Police also said he has tattoos on both arms and may be wearing a disguise, including a dreadlock wig and dressing as a woman.

Police also said the incident was believed to be connected to another incident on May 7, in which a 36-year-old New Haven woman called police on the way to the hospital and said she had been shot by her husband on Henry Street.

Police said detectives believed the shooter was Poole and the victim was specifically targeted by the shooter.

There is an active arrest warrant for Poole for the May 7 shooting, charging him with first degree assault, risk of injury, criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and unlawful discharge of a firearm, police said.

"Until [Poole] is apprehended, we cannot rest," Tashauna Nesbitt said. "No help is too small...any tips, anything is helpful to us, because we need your help."

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Photo credit: New Haven police