New Haven Police Issue Warrants In Connection With Several Recent Shootings, One Of A West Haven Man: NHPD

NEW HAVEN, CT — Mayor Justin Elicker and New Haven Chief of Police David Zannelli Mayor held a news briefing on the case Wednesday on arrests made in three separate non-fatal shootings.

• On 12/21/2025 at approximately 2:30AM, New Haven police officers responded to Yale-New Haven Hospital, 20 York Street, on the report of a walk-in gunshot victim. Officers determined that the victim, a 22-year-old male from West Haven, was shot in the area of Miller Street and Judson Street. The case was assigned to Detective Jeremy Cordero. He was able to develop probable cause to arrest Jermaine Smalls (DOB 11/14/1980) of New Haven; his warrant is currently outstanding.

• On 2/15/2026 at approximately 1:00AM, New Haven police officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation in the 100 block of James Street. Officers located a large group dispersing from the area of Mill Street and Chapel Street. A passersby advised responding officers that there was a fight on Chapel Street and someone had been shot. Officers ultimately located two victims, both 20-year-old men from New Haven, who were each transported by private vehicle to other locations in the city. The case was assigned to Detective Thomas Brunski, who identified the suspect as a 16-year-old juvenile; his warrant is currently outstanding.

• On 2/28/2026 at about 5:33PM, New Haven police officers were dispatched to a restaurant located on the 200 block of Grand Avenue on the report of a gunshot victim. Officers located the victim, a 22-year-old male from East Haven, with a gunshot wound to his leg. While on scene, officers determined one of the possible shooters was still inside the restaurant. They made entry and detained Naquea Bratton (DOB 12/5/2004) of New Haven, who had a high-capacity magazine in his pocket. Bratton was subsequently arrested for firearms charges. In addition to Bratton, a juvenile arrest warrant was issued charging a 17-year-old, who was also one of the shooting victims, with Assault in the First Degree, Carrying a Pistol Without a Permit, Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine, Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, and Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm. The juvenile was taken into custody on March 5, 2026, and transported to Juvenile Detention.