39-Year-Old Arrested For Double Homicide

by Thomas Breen The New Haven independent

Chief Jacobson, with Asst. Chief Zannelli: “We believe we have the shooter in custody.”

City police have arrested a 39-year-old New Havener for allegedly murdering two men on Dickerman Street two weeks ago.

The suspect’s lawyer said that the fatal shooting took place as his client stepped in to defend his own brother.

Police Chief Karl Jacobson and Assistant Police Chief David Zannelli announced the arrest during a Monday afternoon press conference held on the third floor of police headquarters at 1 Union Ave.

They said that city police have arrested Sergio Thomas for the Aug. 25 double homicide of Daiquan Hyman, a 26-year-old from East Haven, and Ernest Williams, a 32-year-old from New Haven.

The fatal shooting took place at around 2:12 p.m. on a Monday on Dickerman Street. ​“It appears at first glance that an altercation occurred between a group of men,” which led to an argument and then escalated to a shooting, Zannelli said. 

Jacobson said the fight appears to have started on Whalley Avenue and then spilled over onto Dickerman. Police believe that the fight may have been related to a dispute between Hyman and someone he served prison time with. ​“We believe it was some kind of beef,” and that Thomas was ​“called to the scene.”

Zannelli credited lead Det. Joseph Galvan for working quickly to identify the alleged shooter, leading to Thomas’ arrest in Waterbury on Friday, Sept. 5, on two counts of murder. 

Thomas was arraigned in state court on Monday, and is currently being held on a $3 million bond.

Jacobson said city police might make further arrests in this case related to the fight and the calling of Thomas to the scene. But, he said, ​“we believe we have the shooter in custody.”

Zannelli added that Thomas is a valid pistol holder, and that he has two legally registered 9‑millimeter guns. Police have seized one of those guns as part of the investigation into this homicide.

Attorney Darnell Crosland, who represented Thomas at Monday’s arraignment, told the Independent that he plans on arguing the amount of the $3 million bond when his client’s case is transferred to the ​“Part A” state court later this month.

Crosland said that, according to the warrant that led to his client’s arrest, there were Ring cameras that captured three individuals ​“trailing” Thomas’ brother, ​“making comments that they were looking to shoot and hurt” him.

“By the time my client arrived, they were beating him,” Crosland said about Thomas’ brother. He said that one of the fight participants had a knife. Another had a gun.

“My client came to the defense of his brother,” Crosland said.

Does that mean he believes that Thomas is the one who shot and killed Hyman and Williams?

Crosland said that it’s not clear yet from the evidence as to who fired the bullets that killed Hyman and Williams. There was at least one other person with a gun at the scene. All he is clear on, Crosland said, is that Thomas ​“engaged to save his brother.” 

Asked at Monday’s police presser about this argument that Thomas was acting to defend his brother, Zannelli noted that police have video evidence of the shooting, and that ​“video evidence doesn’t lie.”

New Haven has seen 13 homicides so far this year, including five in a roughly two-week period in late August and early September. Jacobson said that city police have made 12 homicide arrests so far this year, including five for the 13 homicides that occurred this year.