On the afternoon of August 25, 2025, a dispute on Dickerman Street in New Haven, Connecticut, escalated into deadly violence, claiming the life of 32-year-old Ernist Williams, a Black / African American male. The incident, which also resulted in the death of 26-year-old Daiquan Hyman of East Haven, was described by police as a targeted attack. Officers responded to the scene at approximately 2:12 p.m.
to find both men with multiple gunshot wounds.
Emergency responders transported both Williams and Hyman to Yale New Haven Hospital. Hyman was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. Williams was taken into emergency surgery, but he succumbed to his injuries the following morning. The initial investigation suggested that an argument among a group of four to six men had escalated into a physical fight before the shooting occurred.
Within weeks, the investigation led to an arrest. On September 5, 2025, police took 39-year-old Sergio Thomas into custody in Waterbury. He was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Williams and Hyman. A judge set Thomas's bond at $3 million during his arraignment at New Haven Superior Court. His case was then transferred to the Part A Judicial District Court, which handles major crimes.
Thomas's attorney has claimed that his client acted in self-defense to protect a younger brother, a claim that investigators are continuing to look into as the case proceeds. In the wake of the arrest, city officials and the victims' families held a press conference, calling for an end to violence. While an arrest has been made, police have indicated that the investigation remains ongoing and that more arrests could be possible.
