Paul Bass Photos
Friends and family (above) of the late Ernie Negroni-Feliciano (below) at police HQ Wednesday.
A combination of video evidence and investigatory interviews helped police arrest another alleged murderer — while the victim’s father helped them keep the violence from escalating.
Those were the takeaways from a press conference held Wednesday afternoon at the 1 Union Ave. police headquarters.
Officials called the press conference to announce that they have charged a 37-year New Haven man with murder and weapons offenses in connection with the Dec. 30 shooting death of 27-year-old Ernie Negroni-Feliciano on Saltonstall Avenue in Fair Haven. The arrestee, who has not entered a plea, is being held on $2 million bond.
It was the second announced arrest in a week of a suspect in a recent murder case. (Click here to read about the previous one.)
A dozen friends and relatives of Negroni-Feliciano attended Wednesday’s press conference, including his father, Ernie Negroni.
Police Chief Karl Jacobson said he and lead case Det. Allyn Wright (at left in above photo with his supervisor of the case, Sgt. Gary Hammill) asked the father to help them prevent retaliatory violence. Jacobson credited Negroni with coming through; he said police believe that no related follow-up violence occurred..
“I went out to the street and spoke to friends and other people on the corners,” Negroni (at left in above photo) told the Independent. He said he told people, “I want justice. I don’t want retaliation.”
Speaking at the conference, Negroni thanked police for the swift arrest. He also sent a message to the arrestee’s family: “I know it’s not your fault. I don’t have nothing against you. I want peace. Let’s just go forward.”
A judge has sealed the case file, and officials did not provide a motive or other details about the murder. Jacobson (at left in above photo) said the victim and alleged shooter knew each other.
He also spoke of how police were able to use footage from numerous residents’ home Ring cameras, and from a newly city-installed surveillance camera at Lloyd and Exchange Streets, to help put together the case. A new license plate-reading camera also provided key evidence, he said.
“Those cameras were able to tell a story,” Jacobson said.
Interviews conducted by Wright were also crucial, Jacobson said.
The arrestee was on probation for a separate offense at the time of the shooting. Jacobson cited that fact to renew a call he and other city police chiefs and mayors made at the state Capitol a day earlier for laws to keep repeat offenders behind bars longer.
Chelsea Gonzalez, a friend of the victim, with montage of his photos.
Thank you to the NHPD and to the victim’s father Ernie Negroni working together to prevent retaliation and to stop the cycle of gun violence and apprehend the alleged shooter.
Ernie Negroni stood up to prevent retaliation, spoke out to the friends and family of his child and those of the shooter, and said no more to violence, he is a hero for helping prevent more bloodshed and loss in the community.