It was late afternoon, about 4:40 p.m., when the echoes of gunfire ripped through the Brass Mill Center. Shoppers at the Waterbury mall scrambled, diving into JCPenney or huddling behind clothing racks in Snipes. That May 2025 afternoon didn't just leave five people wounded; it reignited a fierce, often messy conversation about what's actually happening on the streets of the "Brass City."
Waterbury is a place with layers. It’s an old industrial hub trying to find its footing in a new century. But when you hear about a shooting in Waterbury CT, the narrative usually defaults to "it's getting worse."
Is it, though? Honestly, the reality is way more complicated than a headline.
The Reality of Gun Violence in Waterbury
If you look at the raw data from the Connecticut State Police and local CompStat reports, 2024 and 2025 showed a strange push-and-pull in crime statistics. While the state of Connecticut saw a massive 54% drop in homicides between 2023 and 2024, cities like Waterbury, Hartford, and New Haven remained "high-count" areas for gun-related injuries.
Waterbury recorded 18 homicides in 2023. By comparison, Bridgeport had the same number, but New Haven often sits higher, around 22 or 26. Hartford usually tops them all. It's a grim leaderboard.
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But here’s the thing most people miss: The "mall shooting" in May 2025, which grabbed national headlines, wasn't a random act of a "lone wolf." Chief Fernando Spagnolo was quick to clarify that it started as a conflict between two people that simply spiraled. It’s a pattern we see over and over. Gun violence here is rarely about strangers picking targets; it’s about personal disputes, often involving young men, escalating in seconds because a firearm was within reach.
Why the Location Matters
The geography of Waterbury plays a huge role in how these incidents are perceived. You have neighborhoods like the Hill or the Willow Street area where residents are hyper-aware of the sound of sirens. Then you have the more suburban-feeling edges of town where people feel worlds away.
When a shooting happens in a public space like the Brass Mill Center, the "safety bubble" pops for everyone. It stops being a "neighborhood issue" and becomes a "city issue."
Specific incidents from the last 12 months show this diversity:
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- The Carjacking Task Force Incident: In February 2025, a Waterbury officer was shot in the leg during a high-stakes investigation into an auto theft ring.
- The Crosby High Loss: Just weeks ago, in late 2024/early 2025, the community mourned 15-year-old Eric Aitken, a Crosby High student. While that specific tragedy happened across the border in NYC, it sent shockwaves through Waterbury's youth, highlighting how interconnected the cycle of violence is for the city’s teens.
- Targeted Disputes: Many reported shots-fired incidents are eventually linked to retaliatory cycles between small groups of individuals known to law enforcement.
The Strategy to Stop the Bleeding
Waterbury isn't just sitting back. There’s a program called Project Longevity that is basically the city's "secret weapon," though it shouldn't be a secret. It’s a mix of "tough love" and social services.
They bring in people who are statistically most likely to be involved in a shooting—either as a victim or a perpetrator—and give them a choice. They offer housing, driver’s education, and job placement. But they also make it clear: if the violence continues, the full weight of federal and local law enforcement will land on that specific group.
It’s a strategy called "focused deterrence." Does it work? It’s hard to quantify "crimes that didn't happen," but the collaboration between the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury PD has led to a significant number of illegal firearm seizures in the last year.
The FED-UP Program
Another interesting move is the FED-UP program. They’re literally going into middle schools. They don't just lecture kids; they let them talk. They tell these students that being scared of gun violence is a normal reaction, not a sign of weakness. It's a long-game approach. They’re trying to de-normalize the idea that carrying a gun is a requirement for living in certain ZIP codes.
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What You Should Actually Be Worried About
If you live in or visit Waterbury, the odds of being a random victim of a shooting are statistically very low. Most of the violence is concentrated within specific social circles and specific disputes.
However, the "luck factor" that New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker once talked about applies here too. Whether a shooting becomes a homicide or just a "shots fired" report often depends on how fast the paramedics get there or where the bullet lands by a fraction of an inch.
The real concern for the average resident is the proliferation of illegal guns. Police are increasingly finding "ghost guns" and modified weapons during routine stops.
Actionable Steps for Residents
Safety isn't just about police patrols. If you're looking for ways to actually impact the situation or stay safe, here’s what's actually happening on the ground:
- Support Neighborhood Watch 2.0: Don't just post on Nextdoor. Connect with the Waterbury Police Community Relations division. They hold regular meetings where you can get real data, not just social media rumors.
- Utilization of Text-A-Tip: The Waterbury PD uses a confidential tipping system. Many of the arrests following the Brass Mill shooting came from community members who saw something on social media and reported it anonymously.
- Engage with Youth Programs: Organizations like New Opportunities Inc. and the Justice Education Center are always looking for mentors. The vacuum left by a lack of after-school activities is usually what the streets fill.
- Know the Resources: If you know someone who is "in the life" and wants out, Project Longevity (run through the Waterbury PD) is a legitimate exit ramp. They provide actual case management, not just a pamphlet.
The situation with gun violence in Waterbury isn't a simple "up or down" graph. It’s a constant battle between old habits and new initiatives. While the headlines focus on the muzzle flashes, the real story is in the slow, grinding work of the community trying to make sure those flashes happen less often.
Stay aware of your surroundings, especially in high-traffic retail areas, and don't hesitate to use the city's anonymous reporting tools if you see a conflict escalating. Safety in the Brass City is a collective effort, not just a police mandate.