Meriden Man Behind Southington Accident Charged With Murder: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Local police have charged a 43-year-old Meriden resident with the murder of a Waterbury man found unconscious behind the wheel of a crashed car early Thursday morning.

Southington police said Saturday morning that Victor Perez, 43, of 311 Hillcrest Terrace, Meriden, was officially charged with one count of murder for what is now the shooting death of Jose Luis Principe, 28, early Thursday morning.

Police said the court has set Perez’s bond at $10 million and he is currently being held by the Department of Correction.

Thursday, after the shooting-induced car crash at 842 Queen St., Southington, Perez was charged with charged with criminal possession of a pistol and interfering with officers.

Prior to being detained for the murder charge, he appeared in New Britain Superior Court Thursday, posted bond and was released.

This latest development happens for a case that started out as a single-car crash investigation when vehicle slammed into a utility pole.

When officers and responders arrived, however, it was clear this was more than an accident.

"As a result of the hard work of the members of the Southington Police Department, along with cooperation and assistance from several agencies, an arrest arrant has been issued following the serious car crash officers responded to on October 27, 2022, shortly after midnight, along Queen Street," police wrote in a statement issued Saturday.

The crash scene was near a Noodles & Company eatery, police said.

According to the SPD, an occupant of the vehicle, identified as Principe, was found unresponsive and transported to an area hospital for treatment, where he was pronounced dead.

It was determined, while being treated, Principe sustained a gunshot wound to his back, likely contributing to the crash, police said.

Principe’s body was subsequently transferred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for further investigation, where an autopsy was conducted and the ME ruled Principe’s death a homicide, with the cause of death being a gunshot wound to the torso, police said.

Southington police said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information can call the Southington Police Department at 860-621-0101.

From Oct. 27: 'Southington Crash Victim Killed By Gunshot, Police Say'