Ansonia Shooting Investigation Progresses

Photo By Eugene Driscoll

Ansonia police search for shell casings on Church Street Tuesday.

ANSONIA — City police continue to investigate a shooting that happened at the intersection of Howard Avenue and Church Street Tuesday.

“We’re following several leads, we continue to work the case, and anyone with information is urged to call us at 203 – 735-1885,” Lt. Patrick Lynch told The Valley Indy Wednesday.

The City of Ansonia posted a status update on Facebook Thursday morning that added a new detail to the incident:

“The shooting on July 23, where one person was injured, involved two assailants with weapons shooting at one another. It is unknown, at this time, why these individuals were specifically targeting one another,” according to the statement.

The statement was attributed to the city’s police commission and Mayor David Cassetti.

At 4 p.m. Thursday, state Rep. Kara Rochelle posted to Facebook saying Ansonia Police Chief Andrew Cota told her two suspects had been identified. 

One of the suspects is the man who was taken to the hospital, police told The Valley Indy.

In an email Thursday evening, Cota said police ​“have positively identified the victim as a shooter and another person as a strong suspect as the second shooter.”

“We are working hard to positively identify our second shooter,” Cota said.

No charges have been filed as the investigation continues.

Police received several 911 calls Tuesday reporting shots fired outside houses in the area of Howard and Church. A 21-year-old man was shot three times, according to an initial report from police at the scene. His name was not released. He was in serious but stable condition as of Tuesday night, according to police.

Photo by Eugene Driscoll

Police on Howard Avenue

The shooting shook the neighborhood, particularly by the fact it’s the third shooting in Ansonia in about a month, and it happened in broad daylight. In addition, at least a dozen shots were fired, including on a sidewalk outside a house where a family and baby reside. No one else was injured.

On June 15, a 40-year-old man was shot outside a bar on Main Street and a 27-year-old man was shot on Lester Street. Those shootings, which happened in the overnight hours, are thought to be connected, according to the city’s Facebook post.

“We would like to assure the residents of Ansonia that all officers of the Ansonia Police Department share your concern over the recent spate of violence in the city. We will continue to investigate these incidents,” according to the post. ​“Patrol officers, as well as detectives, are aware of the level of concern a shooting incident in a residential neighborhood brings and we will continue to actively patrol the city and provide a presence in neighborhoods.”

In addition to calling police at 203 – 735-1885, the public can leave tips using the Tip411 app. Click here for access.

Here is the city’s statement from Facebook:

July 24, 2019

“The Ansonia Police and Mayor David S. Cassetti’s Office would like to assure the residents of the City of Ansonia that we are doing everything we can to investigate and respond to the recent shooting on Howard Avenue and Church Street on July 23, 2019. In addition, we continue to work diligently on the shootings that occurred in the early morning hours of June 15, 2019 at 232 Main Street and Lester Street.

Any time there is gun violence in a small community, such as Ansonia, it brings fear and the perception that the gun violence is more prevalent than it truly is. In the year 2019, Ansonia police have investigated three shootings. All three shootings have occurred in the month of June and July. However, any number of shootings in a small city is too many and unacceptable.

In the first two shooting incidents on June 15th, where two people were injured at two different locations, are believed to be related. The first person, who was shot at 232 Main Street, was specifically targeted. The second person, injured in this shooting, was not involved but struck while inside of his home on Lester Street after an unknown assailant shot at the residence on Lester Street.

The shooting on July 23rd, where one person was injured, involved two assailants with weapons shooting at one another. It is unknown, at this time, why these individuals were specifically targeting one another.

We would like to assure the residents of Ansonia that all officers of the Ansonia Police Department share your concern over the recent spate of violence in the city. We will continue to investigate these incidents. Patrol officers, as well as detectives, are aware of the level of concern a shooting incident in a residential neighborhood brings and we will continue to actively patrol the city and provide a presence in neighborhoods.

Although, the investigation of these shootings is a police matter and we hope to make arrests in both incidents, I can not underestimate the importance of the public’s help. If you have information related to these incidents or any other incidents please contact the Ansonia Police. We cannot do this alone.

Any information may be helpful and can remain anonymous. You can call the department directly at 203 – 735-1885 or you can leave an anonymous tip at Tip411 by going to the City of Ansonia website and clicking on the link to Tip411.”

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