by Mia Palazzo CTNewsJunkie
WATERBURY, CT – Gov. Ned Lamont joined city officials Wednesday morning outside the Brass Mill Center to provide an update following a shooting that injured five people at the mall Tuesday afternoon.
“This is a terrible tragedy. Hearts and prayers go to those who were hit hard,” Lamont said. “I think they are all going to be okay. Fingers crossed, prayers out there.”
Lamont appeared alongside Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr., members of the Waterbury Police Department, and the Connecticut State Police.
According to Spagnolo, a suspect — who is in police custody — approached a male victim and then shot him and four women who were with him. All five victims, between the ages of 18 and their mid-20s, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. First responders arrived at the scene in under three minutes.
One victim remains hospitalized with a spinal injury and will require physical therapy.
Spagnolo said the shooting suspect — identified in news reports as Tajuan Washington, 19, of Waterbury — used a .40 caliber semi-automatic firearm. During a search of the suspect’s home, two rifles were recovered, though neither has been confirmed as the weapon used in the shooting.
News reports say Washington is being held on a $2 million bond and was due in court Wednesday, charged with five counts of first-degree assault and weapons violations.
“This started off with some sort of a beef, some sort of an argument, and rather than ending up with a fisticuff, somebody pulls out a semi-automatic and shoots seven rounds, and … wounds five people,” Lamont said.
Lamont credited the quick response of law enforcement and emergency personnel.
“The Waterbury police were here in three minutes. That’s in part because we got the ambulances there, right down to these local churches, doing everything we could,” he said. “Thanks again to you and the State Police for responding to this as quickly and promptly as you did. It could have been worse, and it wasn’t.”
Lamont said efforts will continue to identify causes of conflict and work toward preventing further incidents.
“We have to do everything we can in the community to make sure we head this off, find out where these sources of friction might be,” Lamont said.
He also addressed the status of the mall, which remains closed but is expected to reopen once cleared by officials.
“I want you back here in this mall. It’s going to be open very soon to say we’re back on our feet and able to get by this,” Lamont said.