5 people shot at Brass Mill Center Mall; Waterbury, CT resident Tajuan Washington faces charges

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 faces charges of first-degree assault and multiple weapons violations, as announced by authorities during a news 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 expressing his sorrow, stating, “Earlier today, a tragic mass shooting occurred at the Bass Mill Center mall in Waterbury, a location that should guarantee safety for all. We extend our appreciation to the swift response of the law enforcement.”

Law enforcement officials confirmed that despite the Brass Mill Center not being open to the public on Wednesday afternoon, thorough searches and clearance procedures were conducted by the Waterbury Police Department in conjunction with the Connecticut State Police.