A Hillhouse football player is in stable condition after being shot in the abdomen and thigh.
New Haven Police Department spokesman Officer David Hartman reported in a press release that the 18-year-old was found in the rear yard of 538 Stanley St., Thursday evening by Officer Joseph Staffieri and his K‑9.
WTNH confirmed from Hillhouse’s football coach that the teenager is one of the team’s players.
At about 7:17 p.m. officers were investigating a domestic complaint on Elsworth Avenue, when they heard gunfire to the north, according to Hartman. The officers ran in that direction, near Chapel Street, and spotted to men running across the street. One disappeared from their sight as he cut-through some back yards. The other was detained and interviewed.
Arriving officers located ballistic evidence on Stanley Street and several bullet holes through the window of a parked and unoccupied car.
A witness described the man as thin and had his hair in short braids. He wore a black hooded sweatshirt with white draw-strings and black or dark blue jeans. Our witness described the shooter carrying a black handgun in his right hand and did not see his target.
The player was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital for treatment.
A second gun was located by officers searching the driveway of a building near the Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and Chapel Street, according to Hartman. It was found near the spot officers had spotted the two fleeing men earlier. Police are hopeful video surveillance will produce some additional leads in this case.
They are asking anyone with information on this crime or who may have witnessed the shooting, to phone detectives at 203 – 946-6304.
The school system held an “emergency” YouthStat meeting Friday morning to bring together education personnel and community members to “debrief” and “examine paths to resolution for the student,” according to a release.
“Right now our main concerns are ensuring all our students in the school are safe, making sure we can continue to support and communicate with the student’s family, and helping our students cope with this incident,” the release quoted Superintendent of Schools Garth Harries as stating. “Last night, District and school administrators were on site with the family to represent the district’s ongoing support through the situation. We immediately initiated YoutStat because this is when our at-risk students need that kind of tailored engagement the most. Today and over the weekend we will continue doing all we can to support the student’s family as well as the community, and we’re hoping for a safe and speedy recovery.”
