HAMDEN- A 56-year-old man was killed after a dispute led to a shooting on Circular Avenue Sunday afternoon, according to Hamden Police.
Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a reported dispute at a second floor apartment at 397 Circular Avenue around 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
While on the way to the scene, police said shots were fired and the victim, Larry Dildy, was wounded.
Police say Dildy, 56, a resident of 397 Circular Avenue, was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he died several hours later while in surgery.
"I'm kind of shocked, I didn't know it was him, I knew it was [his] house," said Reverend James Newman, pastor of New Freedom Baptist Church.
Newman says he's known Dildy since childhood and believes he lived in the second floor apartment with his wife.
"I'm bump into him in the grocery store. I mean, he's the common 'nice guy' to me that I knew back in school," Newman said.
No information was released on a possible suspect and no arrests have been made as of Sunday night. Investigators remained at the scene throughout the night.
Many neighbors say the shooting happened in a nice part of town, but have noticed more crime occurring recently.
"It's kind of shocking this is happening in our neighborhood. It seems crime is creeping closer and closer to Hamden," said Albert Zuchhetti, a Circular Avenue resident who lives across the street from the shooting scene.
Many neighbors are still wondering how and why someone shot Larry Dildy.
"He might have been in a difficult situation for someone to shoot him. It's probably a lot greater than I can imagine, you never know what's going on behind closed doors," said Rev. Newman.
Hamden Police are expected to release more details on the incident at a press conference Monday.