Somebody shot and killed a 40-year-old man named Alexander Pedraza in Fair Haven Wednesday night, marking the city’s fourth homicide this month.
New Haven Police Department (NHPD) spokesperson Sgt. Scott Shumway broke that news in a late-night Wednesday email press release.
He wrote that, at around 8:31 p.m., city police officers received a call “regarding a person down on Chapel Street, near James Street. Responding officers located Pedraza, who had been shot at River Street and James Street. American Medical Response transported the victim to Yale New Haven Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.”
Officers responded to the scene and collected ballistic evidence. The department’s Major Crimes Unit detectives are leading the investigation.
Police ask that any witnesses who have not yet spoken with the Police contact the New Haven Police Department Investigative Services Division at 203 – 946-6304. Callers may remain anonymous or submit tips anonymously by calling 1 – 866-888-TIPS(8477), or email to ECIC@newhavenct.gov.
Wednesday night’s homicide is the latest in what has proven to be a brutal start to 2023.
On Jan. 1, a 23-year-old New Haven man named Dontae Myers was shot dead near Poplar Street and Grand Avenue in Fair Haven. On Jan. 6, a 41-year-old West Haven man named Charles Miller was shot and killed on Pond Lily Avenue. And on Jan. 7, a 30-year-old New Havener named Kentel Robinson died from injuries he suffered when someone shot him repeatedly on Chapel Street between Beers and Orchard Streets on Jan. 4. Even though shooting deaths dropped 46 percent in 2022 compared to the year before, New Haven has now seen eight homicides over the past roughly two months.
My condolences to the loved ones of the deceased.
Any witnesses or persons aware of the victims or shooters associated with these shootings and murders, please stand up, speak out, say no more. Reach out to police, to violence intervention groups, to trusted community leaders, or others who can intervene and prevent retaliation. We must break the cycle of violence, and it will take everyone’s help to make that happen.