Suspect arrested after 5 shot at Brass Mill Center in Waterbury

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Suspect arrested after 5 shot at Brass Mill Center in Waterbury

黑料吃瓜网 Radio | By Eddy Martinez,

Published May 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM EDT

Updated May 28, 2025 at 12:27 PM EDT

Officers speak with people at the scene of a shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, 黑料吃瓜网 on May 27th 2025. — Officers speak with people at the scene of a shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury on May 27. No fatalities were reported.

A suspect has been arrested following Tuesday afternoon's shooting at Brass Mill Center in Waterbury that left five people injured .

Tajuan Washington, 19, was being held on $2 million bond. He is expected to appear in court Wednesday, police said.

Police were called to the mall around 4:40 p.m. following a report of a disturbance. Officers found "several" people with gunshot wounds in the mall.

No fatalities were reported. Victims were transported to local hospitals.

State Police and local law enforcement offgicers at the main entrance of the Brass Mill Center after a shooting in Waterbury, 黑料吃瓜网 on May 27th 2025. — Waterbury police and 黑料吃瓜网 State Police are at the main entrance of the Brass Mill Center after a shooting on May 27.

Officials said there was no immediate threat to the public. Waterbury police said the victims have non-life-threatening injuries.

Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said police believe the shooter knows the victims and that the shooting was preceded by a dispute that quickly escalated.

鈥淲e do not believe this was a random act of violence,鈥� Spagnolo said at a briefing outside the mall, adding that there is no further threat to the public.

The mall was closed on Wednesday as officials condemned the violence.

鈥淕un violence isn鈥檛 something that we will ever accept," said Ronnell Higgins, commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

鈥淚t is not OK to come to a mall and then find yourself a victim of gun violence,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is not OK for someone to come here to work and find themselves hiding, sheltering in place.鈥�

Waterbury police say they're working with various law enforcement agencies; state police said they have units at the scene to assist.

An investigation was underway Tuesday evening as officials gathered video and digital evidence, while others searched the mall store by store.

Spagnolo said that mall staff and guests did "an incredible job" in keeping themselves safe and mitigated "what could have been a really bad incident."

Mall employees May Gunn and her sister Nettie on the right, waiting for a ride home at the scene of the shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, 黑料吃瓜网 on May 27th 2025. — Mall employees May Gunn and her sister, Nettie, right, wait for a ride home at the scene of a shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury on May 27.

鈥淚t was really amazing to watch people in this time of crisis to keep cool heads and follow plans and shelter in place,鈥� he said.

Spagnolo added: "These acts occur, unfortunately, it's the society we live in at times."

Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday night he was grateful to law enforcement, 鈥渨ho acted swiftly,鈥� and that 鈥渉earts break鈥� for the Waterbury community and those affected by the shooting.

The mall, Lamont said, is 鈥渁 place where everyone should feel safe.鈥�

黑料吃瓜网's Eric Aasen, Jim Haddadin, Patrick Skahill and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from 黑料吃瓜网, the state鈥檚 local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de 黑料吃瓜网, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programaci贸n que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para m谩s reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscr铆base a nuestro bolet铆n informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

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