Crime
Waterbury Brass Mill Center Shooting Suspect Identified as 19-Year-Old Tajuan Washington
WATERBURY, Conn. – Authorities have identified the suspect involved in Tuesday’s shooting at the Brass Mill Center as 19-year-old Tajuan Washington, who was already out on bond in connection with a previous criminal case at the time of the incident.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Waterbury Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. confirmed that Washington is accused of opening fire inside the shopping mall, injuring five individuals.
The shooting, officials emphasized, was not a random act of violence, but instead stemmed from an ongoing conflict between Washington and another male individual with whom he had a prior dispute.
“This was a targeted confrontation between individuals with a history of issues,” Mayor Pernerewski stated. “It was a one-off incident. The public should know that the mall is secure and safe for business.”
According to Waterbury Police Chief Fred Spagnolo, Washington had been free on a $25,000 bond following an arrest in October, in which he was clocked driving 105 miles per hour on Interstate 84 East with his headlights turned off.
Following Tuesday’s shooting, Washington was taken into custody and is now facing five counts of first-degree assault, along with several firearms-related charges.
He is being held on a $2 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court later Wednesday.
Chief Spagnolo reported that three of the five victims have already been released from the hospital, while the remaining two are listed in stable condition.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to gather evidence and review surveillance footage from the mall.
Crime
ICE Tear Gas Canister Strikes Family Vehicle in Minneapolis, Six Children Hurt, Including Infant, Taken to Hospital
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Emergency responders and community members reported a distressing incident during ongoing federal immigration enforcement activity in south Minneapolis, involving the use of tear gas and other crowd-control tactics by federal agents and resulting in injuries to several civilians, including children.
According to local witnesses and media reports, after a federal law enforcement operation involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier in the week, tensions remained high in the surrounding neighborhood.
In one reported episode, residents attempting to leave an area where tear gas was being deployed sought to escape the effects of the chemical agents by entering a vehicle.
As tear gas canisters spread through nearby streets, a family with multiple children, including infants and young minors, was forced to shelter inside their car.
A tear gas canister reportedly landed under or near the vehicle, causing widespread irritation and breathing difficulties for those inside.
Emergency services were called, and some family members — including the children — were taken by ambulance for medical evaluation after experiencing breathing issues.
One infant was reported to have experienced breathing distress and received emergency medical attention.
Reports from bystanders indicated that parents administered first aid at the scene, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for a young child, before paramedics arrived.
Witness accounts describe the situation as chaotic but nonviolent on the part of the civilians, with several families attempting simply to leave the area as federal agents used tear gas and less-lethal munitions.
Those accounts state that no active threat to officers was present at the time the gas was deployed near the family vehicle.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement confirming the specific details of this encounter or whether federal agents intended to target the vehicle.
The Minneapolis Police Department and federal agencies involved in the operation have not publicly corroborated all aspects of the civil accounts, and the situation remains under review by local law enforcement.
Officials continue to investigate multiple related events unfolding in Minneapolis, including other recent uses of force by federal agents.
Local health officials and emergency responders are urging anyone affected by tear gas exposure to seek medical attention.
Community leaders have called for a thorough and transparent review of federal crowd-control tactics and their impact on bystanders, particularly children and other vulnerable individuals.