Beloved Stratford Sensei Killed In Shooting

STRATFORD, CT — The Stratford man killed in a shooting inside a Bridgeport restaurant Sunday was a beloved taekwondo master instructor.

Joselito Calderon, 54, was identified as the victim who was fatally shot inside the Copa restaurant around 1 a.m. on Sunday. Calderon was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center, where he died.

Another man, identified as 30-year-old Niel Francisco of Bridgeport, was also injured in the shooting and is expected to survive, the Connecticut Post reported.

Calderon, who owned Chen Huu Academy in Stratford, was working security at the restaurant at the time of the shooting, according to News12 Connecticut.

“Joselito proudly owned Chen Huu Academy in Stratford for many years, where he trained children, police officers, and adults alike in the art of Taekwondo and self-defense,” his obituary reads. “Sensei Joselito was a master in Taekwondo and lived and trained in Korea for six years, where he was honored with a martial arts training school that bears his name.

“Joselito was loved by everybody and had an incredible sense of humor. He was a loving father and husband and a dedicated sensei who loved to give back to the community.”

Friends and former students wrote tributes to Calderon on the Chen Huu Academy’s Facebook page.

One person wrote, “Sensei Joselito was a best friend to me, he helped me stand up and taught me a lot the best friend i’ll always have in my mind and sensei helped me when when i needed him most.”

Another person wrote, “Rest In Peace Sensei.”

Read his full obituary here.