It was a ritual moment at New Haven police headquarters, and yet it sounded like the first time the words had been uttered.
On Tuesday afternoon the words were uttered by Lisa Craggett, whose 15-year-old son Jacob was murdered last August while sitting in a car in the Hill.
Police officials invited her and other family members to attend a press conference formally announcing the arrest of a 37-year-old felon nicknamed “Duce” in connection with the murder, which included two other shootings as well. Duce, who was already in jail on other charges, was served last week and appeared in court Tuesday on the new charges. At Tuesday’s press conference, Police Chief Dean Esserman called attention to the detectives who put together the case, including lead Detective Michael Wuchek and supervising Detective Sgt. David Zannelli.
And, as is the custom at these press conferences, he offered a chance for family members to speak. Lisa Craggett took the podium to thank the police and make an appeal that other mothers have made at similar press conferences — an appeal to New Haven’s shooters.
“People are tired of these young men killing each other,” Craggett said. “Young men out there, you’ve got to stop. One second of anger that will affect the rest of your life — is that really worth it when you’re sitting [in jail]?
“Stop killing each other.”
“This case touched us closer to home because it involved one of our own,” remarked Lt. Otoniel Reyes, who heads the department’s homicide division. Jacob Craggett’s cousin is New Haven Detective Shayna Kendall.
The arrestee’s file is sealed because police expect to make more arrests in the case.
