Avery Valentin Rivera, a 20-year-old Hispanic male from Ledyard, Connecticut, was fatally shot in New London on the evening of March 18, 2025. The shooting occurred around 6:18 p.m. in the vicinity of 22 Moore Avenue. When police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Rivera with gunshot wounds to his torso. First responders administered medical aid before he was transported to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead. Authorities have stated that the shooting does not appear to have been a random act.
The investigation into the homicide led to the identification of a suspect, 21-year-old Navarre Zeigler of New London. An officer at the scene reportedly recognized Zeigler among the crowd of onlookers. Further investigation revealed that Rivera and Zeigler had been in communication on the day of the shooting, arranging to meet on Moore Avenue. According to an arrest warrant, Rivera's final message to Zeigler at 6:11 p.m. stated, "Pulling up. I'm in a silver Volvo". At the scene, police found Rivera's Volvo still running and discovered shell casings both on the street and inside the vehicle. Rivera was found face-down with two gunshot wounds to his back, and approximately $1,000 in cash was scattered nearby.
On May 14, 2025, Navarre Zeigler was apprehended in North Providence, Rhode Island, by members of the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Service. He faces charges of murder, carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and tampering with physical evidence. Zeigler is being held on a $1 million bond.
Avery Rivera was remembered as a 2023 graduate of Saint Bernard's in Uncasville, known for his "infectious smile and laugh, twinkly eyes and goofy personality that would make everyone smile and light up the room". His obituary highlighted his creative imagination as a writer and photographer, his passion for cooking, and his love for the game of basketball. He also enjoyed fishing and boating and cherished time spent with his twin brother and friends.
