Jordance Uron Dozier Sr., known affectionately to his loved ones as "Nook," was a one-of-a-kind soul who brought laughter and warmth wherever he went. A lifelong resident of Waterbury, Connecticut, the 47-year-old male was born on September 21, 1979, to Virginia Dunbar and the late Rufus Dozier. Friends and family remember him for his playful spirit and unforgettable personality, always ready with a joke. Beneath the humor was a heart full of kindness, strength, and generosity.
Family was everything to Nook; he was a devoted father to his seven children and a cherished grandfather to his three grandchildren. He dedicated his life to providing for them and creating countless memories to ensure they always knew how loved they were. An avid dog lover with a special fondness for pit bulls, Jordance also had a deep appreciation for cars and took pride in his business, Get Around Rentals LLC.
In the early morning hours of Saturday, September 26, 2026, Jordance’s life was unexpectedly cut short. Just before 1 a.m., Waterbury police officers were dispatched to the 1300 block of East Main Street after receiving numerous reports of a man being shot near the 7 Blessings Smoke Shop. Upon arrival, they found Jordance lying in the roadway outside the shop. He was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to his chest. Emergency medical personnel transported him to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later ruled his death a homicide.
The Waterbury Police Detective Bureau immediately launched an investigation into the fatal shooting. At the scene, officers located and collected physical evidence of gunfire. The shooting was one of two separate incidents involving gun violence in the city that weekend, prompting police to ask the public for any information that could help their investigations. Authorities urged anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact detectives or to leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.
Just two days after the shooting, on Monday, September 28, investigators made a swift arrest in the case. Waterbury police located and took 47-year-old Dannie Lee Beverley into custody in New Haven. Beverley was charged with murder, illegal discharge of a firearm, criminal possession of a pistol or revolver, criminal use of a weapon, and illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle. According to police, Beverley was on parole at the time of the shooting, having been released from prison in July 2022. He had a prior felony conviction for first-degree manslaughter stemming from a 1996 incident in New Haven.
Following his arrest, Beverley was held on a $2.5 million bond, which was later increased to $4 million. He was scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Waterbury on October 6, 2026. Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo announced the arrest, bringing a measure of progress to the active homicide case. The case was expected to proceed through the Connecticut judicial system as of October 2026.
In the wake of his death, Jordance’s family was left to cherish his memory. He was survived by his mother, his seven children—Dyjuon "Chicken" Butler, Jordance "Boom" Dozier Jr., Shayona Dozier, Jaquan "Quan" Dozier, Dream Dozier, Jordyn Dozier, and Nasir Watson—and three grandchildren. He also left behind his siblings, the mothers of his children, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. His family held a visitation and funeral service on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Zion Baptist Church in Waterbury, followed by a graveside service at New Pine Grove Cemetery. His obituary captured the deep loss felt by the community, stating, "Nook's journey on this earth may have come to an end, but his story does not. He lives on in every laugh shared, every lesson taught, every memory created, and in the hearts of everyone blessed to know and love him."
