Centre District
Down Town Neighborhood
May 30, 2025: 
School Lockdown: No Harm
Waterbury Arts Magnet School was placed on lockdown after a report of a student carrying a possible gun. Police quickly determined the item was a water gun, not a firearm, and the lockdown was lifted with normal school activities resuming. Authorities continue to monitor school safety closely following recent incidents.

Saw Mill District
East End Neighborhood
May 27, 2025: 
Mall Shooting
Five people were shot at the Brass Mill Center mall in Waterbury during a dispute that escalated into gunfire, leaving four women and one man injured, ages 20 to 26. Police arrested 19-year-old Tajuan Washington the following day, charging him with five counts of first-degree assault and weapons violations. The victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries, with one woman suffering a gunshot wound to the spine. The mall was closed for investigation and remains a focus of law enforcement efforts, with officials emphasizing there was no random threat to the public.
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Waterville District
Saint Margaret's - Willow - Plaza Neighborhood
May 23, 2025: 
Woman Dies in Police Custody
The death of a 29-year-old woman while in Waterbury police custody is under investigation by the state Office of the Inspector General. The woman was arrested on Friday near an abandoned house on Willow Street and was searched at the time of arrest. Authorities have not released further details as the investigation continues.
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Waterville District
Saint Margaret's - Willow - Plaza Neighborhood
Cop Under Scrutiny
May 23, 2025: A Waterbury police officer was placed on administrative duty amid an internal investigation following an incident where the officer attempted to stop a driver who fled after making an illegal turn at West Main Street and Willow Street. The department is conducting a review of the officer’s conduct during the encounter.

Bucks Hill District
Bucks Hill Neighborhood
May 21, 2025: 
Gun at Wilby
Waterbury police took a 15-year-old into custody after he was reported to have brought an unloaded gun onto a school bus serving Wilby High School. The incident was reported by another student early Wednesday morning, prompting immediate school lockdowns and police intervention. Officials are reviewing safety protocols to prevent similar occurrences.
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West Side Hill District
West End Neighborhood
May 21, 2025
Boy Hit By Car = Hospitalized
An 11-year-old child was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle on Old Colony Drive in Waterbury. The incident occurred around 7:50 a.m., and police reported that the driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Authorities continue to urge caution for both drivers and pedestrians in school zones and residential neighborhoods.
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North End District
Crownbrook Neighborhood
May 20, 2025
Boy Hit By Car = Okay
A 13-year-old bicyclist suffered serious injuries following a collision with a vehicle on Bishop Street in Waterbury. Police responded to the scene shortly before 4 p.m. and confirmed the child was transported to the hospital for treatment. The cause of the crash remains under investigation as officials work to determine the circumstances leading up to the accident.
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Waterbury at large
Central Business District
North End District
Down Town Neighborhood
Walnut-Orang-Walsh Neighborhood
April 25, 2025

Four Young Men Perish in Tragic Crash


In the early hours of Thursday morning, April 24, the city of Waterbury was shaken by a devastating automobile accident that claimed the lives of four young men, including three brothers, and left a beloved neighborhood market in ruins. 

The fatal crash occurred just before 1:00 a.m. on Cherry Street, near the intersection with East Main Street, when a speeding vehicle lost control and slammed into the Hernandez Market, causing part of the building to collapse1.

​
The Victims: Three Brothers and a Friend
Authorities identified the deceased as Nelson Torres, 25; Kayden (also reported as Jayden) Torres, 20; and Noel Torres, 15-three brothers from Waterbury.  The fourth victim was their friend, 20-year-old Johnaven (Jonathan) Puszka, also of Waterbury.  Three of the young men were pronounced dead at the scene, while the fourth succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.

Noel Torres was a student at Kennedy High School, remembered by friends and neighbors as respectful and well-mannered.  The loss of these young lives has cast a pall over the close-knit community, with families and friends mourning the tragedy.


Scene of Devastation
The crash site at 45 Cherry Street was described as a scene of utter destruction.  The impact of the speeding car-reported to be a black BMW sedan-was so forceful that it caused the storefront to collapse, bricks and debris littering the sidewalk, and a utility pole to snap in half.  The vehicle itself was left mangled and overturned, with first responders and neighbors unable to reach the victims immediately due to the danger posed by downed power lines and the unstable structure.

Cesar Torres, a resident, recounted the harrowing moments after the crash:
“We tried to get in there and wires were all over the place so it was smart that we didn’t because we had to wait for them to secure the poles so the roof wouldn’t fall on top of us.”


Market in Ruins, Community in Mourning
Hernandez Market, a fixture in the neighborhood, suffered catastrophic damage.  The store’s owners expressed their heartbreak, noting that while the loss of their business was painful, it paled in comparison to the grief of the families who lost their loved ones.

“It broke my spirit, because those are lives. I am a mother as well. God is great and I hope that God gives that family strength,” said Lidia Rodriguez, wife of the store owner.


Investigation Underway
Police have stated that preliminary evidence and surveillance footage indicate speed was a significant factor in the crash, though the full circumstances remain under investigation.  The Waterbury Police Department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit is actively reviewing the case and encourages anyone with information to come forward.

No other injuries were reported, as the market was closed at the time of the incident.  Cherry Street remains closed between East Main Street and Walnut Street as crews continue repairs and investigators work at the scene1.


A City Grieves
As Waterbury mourns the loss of four promising young lives, the tragedy stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of excessive speed and the fragility of life.  The community now gathers to support the grieving families and to reflect on how quickly joy can turn to sorrow on the city’s familiar streets.

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