WATERBURY, Conn. — Police in Connecticut have arrested a 19-year-old in the shooting of five people at a mall in Waterbury on Tuesday.
Nineteen-year-old Tajuan Washington from Waterbury is facing charges for five counts of first-degree assault along with multiple weapons violations, as announced by officials during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Washington is being held on a $2 million bond.
Brass Mill Center Mall remained closed after the shooting just before 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, which prompted a massive police response and mall lockdown.
The victims, four women and one man, range in age from 20 to 26.
Three of the victims have been treated and released from the hospital. The remaining two are stable, and continue to receive medical care.
The most seriously wounded is a woman who suffered a gunshot to the spine.
Authorities said that the shooting was not random, and appeared to have stemmed from a dispute that escalated into gunfire.
Law enforcement recovered evidence from the scene, including items connected to the firearm.
No officers were posted inside the mall at the time of the incident.
Following the incident, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issued a statement which included, “This tragic mass shooting at the Bass Mill Center mall in Waterbury this afternoon is deeply concerning, as malls should be places where everyone feels secure. We appreciate the prompt response of law enforcement officers.”
Authorities have confirmed that the Waterbury Police Department, in collaboration with the Connecticut State Police, conducted a thorough search and clearance of the Brass Mill Center, which remained closed to the public by Wednesday afternoon.
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