In the early morning hours of June 4, 2024, a disturbance on Washington Street in Waterbury, Connecticut, shattered the quiet of the residential neighborhood. It was an altercation that would ultimately claim the life of Roberto Manuel Baez Jr., a 30-year-old Hispanic man. In the wake of the dispute, the sound of gunshots rang out, and Baez was struck.
He was quickly transported to Saint Mary's Hospital by a private vehicle, bypassing emergency services in a desperate attempt to save his life.
At approximately 12:16 a.m., Waterbury police were dispatched to the scene after receiving reports of the gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered evidence of the shooting outside a residence on the 60 block of Washington Street. At the same time, officers were alerted to Baez's presence at the hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead, turning the investigation into a homicide. Authorities characterized the shooting as an isolated incident, stemming from the earlier disturbance.
For months, the Waterbury Police Department's Detective Bureau diligently worked the case, seeking information from the public to bring justice for Baez's death. Their investigation eventually led them to identify a suspect. In December, police announced that they had secured an arrest warrant for 25-year-old Angel Rodriguez. The warrant charges Rodriguez with murder, illegal discharge of a firearm, criminal use of a weapon, carrying a pistol without a permit, and first-degree reckless endangerment. The search for Rodriguez is ongoing as authorities continue to ask for the public's assistance in locating him.
