Man Found Guilty In Fatal Shooting In Restaurant Parking Lot In West Haven: Officials

WEST HAVEN, CT — A New Haven man has been found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of a man in a restaurant parking lot in West Haven in 2024, according to officials.

Eric Johnson, 34, was convicted by a jury in Milford Superior Court on Tuesday of first-degree manslaughter, Ansonia/Milford Judicial District State’s Attorney Margaret E. Kelley announced.

After four days of evidence, Kelley said the jury deliberated less than two hours before reaching a unanimous verdict. Superior Court Judge Peter A. McShane also rendered a finding of guilty on the bifurcated charge of criminal possession of a firearm, according to a news release from the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.

According to testimony at the trial, Johnson had an argument with Hector “Fabi” Dominguez, 44, of West Haven, on Feb. 4, 2024 at the Tropical Caribbean Restaurant in West Haven.

Johnson, who worked as a bouncer at the restaurant, testified that he “tapped” Dominguez on the chin, after which Dominguez walked away angry, according to the news release.

“A short time later, Dominguez’s friends saw the defendant in the parking lot and asked him about what happened, not realizing he was the one who struck Dominguez,” officials wrote in the news release. “Dominguez had returned to the lot during this time. Dominguez then exited his truck, grabbed a hammer, and hit the defendant’s vehicle several times as the defendant was backing away, according to testimony. By the third swing of the hammer, the defendant shot Dominguez six times from inside his vehicle. Dominguez fell, and the defendant drove over him while leaving. Dominguez died from four gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen, thigh, and back of the head.”

Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23 at Milford Superior Court.