On the early morning of Thanksgiving, November 23, 2023, the life of Otis Powell, a 30-year-old Black / African American man from West Haven, was tragically cut short. The fatal incident unfolded just before 1 a.m. in New Haven, Connecticut, as patrons were making their way out of the Terminal 110 nightclub located on Sargent Drive. Powell suffered a gunshot wound in the chaotic moments outside the club.
Responding to the sound of gunfire they heard while on patrol in the area, New Haven
police officers were approached by Powell, who informed them he had been shot. Emergency medical services were promptly dispatched to the scene, and he was quickly transported to Yale New Haven Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of the morning.
Detectives from the New Haven Police Department's Major Crimes Unit and Bureau of Identification arrived at the location to begin their investigation. They secured the area to collect evidence, which included ballistic evidence, and started the process of interviewing witnesses and searching for any available surveillance footage that may have captured the shooting. Although gunfire was confirmed, the city's ShotSpotter system was not activated during the incident. As of late 2023, the investigation into the death of Otis Powell was ongoing, with authorities publicly appealing for anyone with information to come forward. No suspects have been identified, and no arrests have been announced in connection with the homicide.
