x
Breaking News
More () »

New Haven Police: Progress in investigation of death of 16-year-old

NEW HAVEN–As the weather warms, so does the rate of violent crime in urban settings nationwide. New Haven knows this all too well. A high school junior an...

NEW HAVEN--As the weather warms, so does the rate of violent crime in urban settings nationwide. New Haven knows this all too well.

A high school junior and a father of three became the Elm City’s third and fourth homicide victims within 37 hours of one another this week.

Now two days later police say they are making progress in their investigation of the teen’s death.

Sunday morning, just after midnight, Jericho Scott, 16, was gunned down in front of his Exchange Street home. He died shortly thereafter at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Scott’s parents says he was walking home with a friend, who was going to share a pizza, some wings and watch a movie with their son.

Monday afternoon, Lyndell Moore, a 29-year-old father of three from New Haven, was shot and attempted to drive his car away, only to crash into a parked vehicle near the intersection of Charles Street and Orchard Place.  Police received reports of three men running from the scene.

Tuesday afternoon, police were busy canvassing neighborhood, which is full of apartments, in search of leads.

“I believe if there's more cops on the street, and they're actually doing their job and putting the force out there, I believe they will stop a lot of crimes will stop,” said Derrick Sherard, who lives in the neighborhood and claims to be the first person to tend to Moore after he crashed.

“There's not enough officers in the city of New Haven or any urban city to monitor what's going on all over the place,” said Rodney Williams, a tireless community leader who says the community needs to assume equal responsibility.

“People need to start speaking on what they see because, at any given time, it can be you,” said Williams, who also serves as the co-chairman of the city’s 21st Ward.

The president of the Greater New Haven Clergy Association says one impediment to curbing crime is that children, for the most part , no longer lean on their faith to guide them. “It's gotten to a point now where there are so many things, distractions outside of the church or in the world, per say, and so church is not the place for children desire to be,” said Rev. James Newman, of the New Freedom Baptist Church.

Williams grew up in this part of the city, and his frustration continues to grow. He says he remembers vividly the day John Daniels was elected New Haven’s first black mayor. It was also the day a close friend was shot to death.

“To me, it’s not changing,” said Williams, with tears streaming down his cheek.

The four homicides so far this year in New Haven are two fewer than the Elm City had endured by this time last year.

Before You Leave, Check This Out