Police have arrested three people in connection with a daytime fatal shooting in New Britain in September that led to two local schools being put in a shelter-in-place mode.
The shooting was reported on Sept. 12 in the area of 247 Kelsey St. where officers responded just before 9 a.m. on the report of a burglary in progress, according to the New Britain Police Department.
As officers were en route, police said they received reports of a motor vehicle crash followed by an altercation in which shots were fired. Responding officers found 26-year-old Dante Sprouse of New Britain suffering from a gunshot wound.
According to police, Sprouse received medical attention at the scene before being taken to the Hospital of Central Connecticut where he was pronounced dead.
The incident led to Smith Elementary School and the Roosevelt Early Learning Center being placed into a shelter-in-place mode as parents were still dropping students off.
Police quickly determined that the burglary report, crash and gunshots were all tied together, noting that Sprouse lived in the area where the shooting happened.
Investigators obtained warrants charging 18-year-old Jayden Hayes of Bristol and 22-year-old Angel Del Rio Clemente of New Britain in connection with the shooting, police said. According to Judicial Branch records, both men were arrested last month on charges of murder in the commission of a felony, first-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools and illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle.
Both suspects are each being held on a $2 million bond as their cases remain pending in New Britain Superior Court, records show.
Police on Thursday said they charged a third suspect in connection with the initial burglary. William Rodriguez, 29, of Hartford was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary, according to police.
All three suspects were charged after an extensive investigation, according to police. Police said they will continue to work closely with the New Britain State’s Attorney’s Office as the suspects are prosecuted.
“We are committed to finding those responsible for crimes like this and ensuring they are brought to justice, which is exactly what happened here,” New Britain Police Chief Matthew Marino said in a statement Thursday. “New Britain residents can rest assured that all within the ranks of the New Britain Police Department remain victim-focused, dedicated to keeping this community safe and protecting the quality of life for all who live here. We are also grateful for our partnership with the New Britain State’s Attorney’s Office and all who assisted with this investigation.”
“I want to thank those within our police department’s Criminal Investigation Division for their commitment to apprehending the suspects in this heinous crime,” Mayor Erin E. Stewart said in a statement. “Our residents deserve the security of knowing criminal activity will not be tolerated in our community, so I am glad all the individuals involved with performing a violent crime in one of our neighborhoods were captured and will be brought to justice.”
