Man charged in Waterbury, Connecticut mall shooting, police say

A man is under arrest in Tuesday's shooting at the Brass Mill Center mall in Waterbury, Connecticut, police say.

Police announced 19-year-old Tajuan Washington turned himself in and was charged with five counts of first-degree assault, as well as weapons violations. He appeared in court Wednesday and is being held on $2 million bond.

Police said they seized two rifles from the suspect's Waterbury home. They also said the suspect was out on a $25,000 bond for a number of motor vehicle charges, including reckless driving and interfering with a police officer.

Gov. Ned Lamont joined state and local officials on Wednesday in Waterbury, which is about 30 miles southwest of Hartford, to share an update on the investigation.

"This was a one-off incident. The mall is safe, the city is safe. But we do feel it's important that we have these conversations about what we can do to make people feel safe," Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said, adding, "I would encourage people to come back to the mall."

Police say dispute led to gun violence

One young man and four young women, all between the ages of 18 to their mid-20s, were wounded when shots rang out shorty before 5 p.m. Maureen Platt, the state's attorney for the Waterbury district, said the suspect fired a .40-caliber handgun seven times.

She said it's a "miracle" all the victims will survive.

"And I still don't know how that could have happened. How you can hit people, five different people, with a .40-caliber, and not kill them?" Platt said.

Three of the gunshot victims were released from the hospital earlier Wednesday.

Pernerewski said it was not a random act of violence.

"It was, in effect, two young men who knew each other, had a history and a past. They got into a beef here," he said. "There were four young women with the victim, and so the perpetrator, when he was called out -- instead of having what would've been, at one time, a fist fight, but because he was armed -- came out with a pistol, shot the guy he was having a problem with and the four women who were with him, as well."

"This is a conflict between people that really displayed poor conflict resolution skills, right? We see this more and more when it comes to violence, especially gun violence, in our community and, frankly, when I talk to my peers across the state in their communities, as well," said Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo. "If the conflict resolution skills are just lacking, and people just immediately escalate to this act of violence to resolve issues."

It wasn't clear, at first, if the shooter was still inside the mall, so EMS crews put on bulletproof vests and were escorted by police to reach the victims.

Police said Washington snuck out of the mall through a department store and left the scene. They used cellphone data and other technology to track him, and they were preparing to arrest him when he surrendered at police headquarters. 

"This is a strong city"

The gunfire sent people running for cover and sheltering inside stores. Once the scene was clear, officers went store to store to escort them out.

"The community, the shoppers, the workers here at the mall really came together," Spagnolo said. "People really went with their instincts. They were able to shelter in place. They were very cooperative in assisting with law enforcement's efforts to make the scene safe."

"This is a strong city, and we are very much standing together in times of crisis. We support and we care for one another, and we are going to continue moving forward as a city," Pernerewski said. "To every resident of the city, please know that we're all here for you. We're working hard, we're listening and we're committed to keeping Waterbury safe and strong."

"This type of crime is just shocking to me"  

Lamont called it a "terrible tragedy," and went on to say, "This type of crime is just shocking to me."

"Don't let these guys scare you. I want you back here in this mall," Lamont added. "It's going to be open very soon, and what it means to this community to say we're back on our feet and able to get by this."

Officials could not say when exactly the mall, which is struggling with many empty storefronts, would reopen, but said it will be soon and they are evaluating their security plans.

"It is not OK to come to a mall and then find yourself a victim of gun violence. It is not OK for someone to come here to work and find themselves hiding, sheltering in place," said Ronnell Higgins, of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services.

"I'm not gonna come to the mall if I don't see more security officers or more police officers present," local resident Troy Roshka added.