Police ID 16-Year-Old Boy Shot, Killed Monday In New Haven

NEW HAVEN, CT — A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed on Valley Street late Monday afternoon, police said.

Police identified the boy as Joshua Vazquez of New Haven. Just before 4:30 p.m., police were called to a report of a shooting on Valley Street, between Mountain Road and Harper Avenue, according to police spokesperson Officer Scott Shumway.

There, they found Vazquez who'd been shot. Rushed to Yale New Haven Hospital, he died from his injuries, Shumway said.

Vazquez, who lived in the West Hills neighborhood, was a student at the New Haven Public Schools' inter-district magnet school, the Metropolitan Business Academy.

New Haven Public Schools spokesperson Justin Harmon said the district is providing counseling support to the students at the school.

According to reporting by the New Haven Independent, Vazquez was riding his bike when, police said, he had "some kind of interaction” with people in a car driving by and was then shot.

Vazquez was a Resident Services Youth Volunteer Program member, featured in a summer 2020 Independent story about the kids' good works. Those included "cutting the lawns of seniors and residents with disabilities, cleaning the streets, distributing the community newsletter, cleaning up yards and bike paths and debris from Hurricane Isaias, and distributing food boxes to neighbors."

The New Haven police Bureau of Identification responded and detectives from the department's Major Crimes Unit are leading the investigation.

Police ask that any witnesses who have not yet spoken with investigators contact the New Haven Police Department Investigative Services Division at 203-946-6304. Callers may remain anonymous or submit tips anonymously by calling 1-866-888-TIPS (8477), or email to ECIC@newhavenct.gov.