Man Charged In Shooting At Club In Stratford: Police

STRATFORD, CT — A man has been arrested in connection with a shooting at a club in Stratford last July, according to police.

Derek Watley, 28, of Stratford, was arrested Friday on a warrant with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Violent Crime Task Force, according to police. He was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, first-degree assault, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and carrying a pistol without a permit.

Juwan Gonsalves, 29, of Naugatuck, was previously arrested in connection with the incident. He was charged with possession with intent to sell marijuana, possession of crack cocaine, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault and possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle.

Police said the arrests stem from a shooting that happened July 9 at Pure Platinum Gentleman’s Club in Stratford. A man was shot in the incident.

Detectives investigating the incident in July 2022 found Watley in possession of a gun and he was charged accordingly at the time, according to police.

At the time of that weapon arrest, police said Watley was on probation related to a conviction from a previous shooting that happened in 2018 in Stratford.

Watley was held in lieu of a $300,000 bond, according to police.