New Haven Independent

Reichard, speaking in front of police headquarters at 1 Union Avenue, said Antoinette Joyner, 53, was apparently sitting on a stoop on Winthrop Avenue, petting the stray cats on the block, when she was hit by a stray bullet to the chest from several hundred feet away. She died a short while later at the Hospital of St. Raphael.

Reichard said police believe “several” gangs are involved in the rash of gun violence that’s hit the West River neighborhood in the past few weeks, although none of the other shootings were lethal. He said police patrols had already been increased at the time of this shooting around 1 a.m. Sunday. (Click here for a story and debate about the previous shooting, Thursday.)

“We had a couple reports that kids were shooting back and forth at each other in the neighborhood,” he said, but declined to identify which groups of youths might be involved.

Since he had no mug shot of a suspect, Reichard showed the press a photo of the victim. He said he hoped people with information would step forward, but no one has yet.

“It’s quite frustrating to know that people in the neighborhood witnessed this - someone actually called us at 9-1-1. We just need to talk to these people to find out exactly what they saw so we can put the pieces of the puzzle together and find out why this innocent victim is dead.”

This was the 11th homicide in the city so far this year.

Anyone with information is urged to call the New Haven police non-emergency number at 946-6316 or the detective bureau at 946-6304.