14-Year-Old's Shooting Death Spurs Action On Juvenile Crime In CT

Milford CT

29 October, 2021

9:32 AM

Description

Good Friday morning Connecticut, It will be a pretty nice day today, with some sunshine and temperatures into the upper 50s. Late tonight, rain develops, and it will continue off-and-on throughout the day on Saturday. An inch or more of rain may fall before the rain ends Saturday night. A wind advisory has been issued for coastal sections of southern Connecticut from 4 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday. Winds could gust up to 50 mph. Halloween looks great with sunshine and temperatures back into the mid 60s. The Big Story On Monday, Will Vasquez, 14, of Hamden, was shot and later died as a result of injuries he sustained in a shooting in Waterbury, police said. The Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crimes Unit is investigating. Will would have turned 15 on Nov. 7. Gov. Ned Lamont held a news conference on Thursday to address the recent surge of juvenile crimes in Connecticut. In September, another 14-year-old was stabbed to death in Waterbury. Local officials throughout Connecticut have repeatedly said juveniles are behind the rash of car thefts and other violent crimes in the state. During the news conference, which was attended by the family of Vasquez, Lamont said the teen had prior issues with stolen cars, and he was shot on Monday while in a stolen car, according to WTNH News 8. Vasquez had been wearing an ankle bracelet, but his mother said it didn't include a GPS tracker, and she pleaded with the court to keep it on her son, but they decided to remove it, Lamont said. "I wish the probation department would have been a little stronger after his first offense...," Lamont said, according to News 8. State and local officials say a small percentage of teens are responsible for about 90 percent of the crimes being committed. Lamont said, according to the Republican-American, that "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that never happens again." He detailed providing more services for young offenders and their families, increased supervision, appointing more judges to handle juvenile cases, and stronger policies for repeat and violent offenders, the Rep-Am reported. See also: Wife Defrauded Husband Of $600K Over 20 Year, Told Him He Had Alzheimer's: Police According to police, the accused, told her husband he had Alzheimer's to "prevent him from going to the bank.">>>Read More. State Police Investigating Break-In At Town Hall Two men broke into Town Hall, state police said.>>>Read More. Nurse Saves Woman's Life At Blake Shelton Concert A woman suffered a severe seizure at a Connecticut concert, and a nurse stepped up, according to a report..>>>Read More. Reaction from GOP Lawmakers HARTFORD—House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora on Thursday issued the following statement in response to Gov. Lamont's news conference on juvenile crime: "It's sad that it took months, and the loss of another life, for the governor to finally acknowledge both the seriousness and depth of this crisis. We'll have to wait and see what the governor and law enforcement officials know about the tragic death of this teenager, but the fact that during a news conference he even mentioned Republican concepts as he stood alongside people demanding reform to our juvenile justice system should send a clear signal to legislative Democrats. The time for doublespeak and trying to disprove this public safety crisis is over, and after today I don't see how the governor can do anything but call the legislature into special session to tackle this emergency." CONNECTICUT JUSTICE ALLIANCE Responds to Governor Lamont's News Briefing On Juvenile Crime Issues in Connecticut In response to the Lamont Administrations news briefing on juvenile crime issues in Connecticut, CTJA Policy Director Iliana Pujols issues the following statement: "First, we want to share our deepest condolences to the families that have lost children to crime. We also want to recognize the trauma impacting Black and Brown communities. Increased incarceration is never a solution; we know this from history and generations of impact. We need solutions based on addressing the root issues young people face that lead them into the system to enact meaningful reforms. Since Connecticut started to close prisons, our crime rate has sunk to historic lows. We must continue on that path. "As our legislators develop a plan of action, we urge them to consider the historical investment disparities in Black and Brown communities. As one of the state's leading organization's working side by side with youth to end the criminalization of children, we encourage the governor to work with community organizations like ours to create a plan that addresses the root issues of crime in our communities, creates space for mentorship opportunities, and provides funds for credible messengers. We can not incarcerate our way out of crime. Calling for investment in our communities while also calling for the mass incarceration of our people is contradictory to the solution. We have to reshape communities, systems, and policies so that they are equitable and intended to create long-term impact. We need to fill in the gaps." Here are traffic conditions on CT's major roadways UNION - Road Work on I-84 Westbound between Exits 74 and 72 (5.5 miles) in effect today until 4:53 pm. The left lane is closed. Reported Friday, October 29 at 8:53 am. WESTPORT - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 18 and 5 (14.9 miles). Reported Friday, October 29 at 7:32 am. ROCKY HILL - The Ferry CLOSED due to high waters. Reported Friday, October 29 at 6:00 am.10/28/21, 7:45 AM NORWALK - Delays. RT15 Southbound is congested between Exits 36 and 29 (5.4 miles). Reported Friday, October 29 at 7:31 am. WATERBURY - Road Work on RT8 Northbound between Exits 30 and 33 (0.8 miles) in effect today until 3:29 pm. The left lane is closed. Reported Friday, October 29 at 9:12 am. BERLIN - Road Work on RT9 Northbound between Exits 22 and 24 (1.2 miles) in effect today until 3:00 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Friday, October 29 at 9:20 am.