WATERBURY, Conn. — Waterbury Police said a 45-year-old woman was shot and killed in her condo Tuesday morning. Her 19-year-old son was also shot, but is in stable condition. Police are searching for a suspect, who they say is her estranged husband, and the boy’s father.
Officers responded to 100 Mark Lane for a report of a disturbance just after 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday. A neighbor made the call to police.
"The complaint in this particular incident, called the police from an adjoining household, because bullets came through their wall, nearly missing them, while they lie in bed this morning," said Chief Fernando Spagnolo with the Waterbury Police Department.
When police arrived on scene, they found a woman with gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead on the scene. A second gunshot victim was found, her 19-year-old son. He was taken to a local hospital where police say he is recovering and in stable condition.
The suspect had left the scene before police got there, and it's believed that the shooting is due to a domestic violence situation.
"Nowadays I feel like it's happening more, because of what's going on with society," said Kevin Robinson, a nearby neighbor in the condo complex.
Chief Spagnolo said the suspect they're looking for is a convicted felon and has a "strong domestic violence history within the household."
Spagnolo said their suspect has been arrested more than seven times in the past several years. He has also been convicted of prior gun offenses, drug offenses, and violent crimes.
"He should not be in possession of a firearm," said Chief Spagnolo, as he was at a press conference Tuesday morning in front of Safe Haven in Waterbury. Local leaders and state lawmakers joined him, as they all advocated for stronger gun laws when it comes to domestic abusers.
Recently, Gov. Ned Lamont announced a 2023 legislative proposal to improve gun safety laws to prevent suicides, accidents and domestic violence.
"First, we want to require a 10-day waiting period before purchasing a firearm," said Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz at the press conference.
The proposal also calls for the following:
- Increasing education requirements for firearm licenses;
- Requiring safe storage regardless of who lives at a given residence;
- Improving the design safety standards for semiautomatic handguns;
- Making commission of a family violence crime or being a fugitive an automatic disqualifier for holding a pistol permit;
- Prohibiting the carrying of any loaded long gun in a vehicle; and
- Requiring trigger locks for all firearm purchases.
Chief Spagnolo is encouraging lawmakers to take a serious look at the proposal, saying it would be helpful in preventing tragedies like the most recent one in his community.
"Absolutely, it could have had a totally different outcome in my opinion this morning if some of these common sense solutions were enacted," Spagnolo said.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Waterbury Police Detective Bureau at (203) 574-6941 or Crime Stoppers at (203) 755-1234
This is a developing story.
Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is
asked to contact the Waterbury Police Detective Bureau at (203) 574-6941 or Crime Stoppers at (203) 755-1234