On a Halloween afternoon in Waterbury, Connecticut, a 23-year-old Black man named Xavier Ryan Pellot was fatally shot. The incident occurred on October 31, 2022, at approximately 4 p.m. near the 100 block of Willow Street. Following reports of gunfire in the area, police were notified that a gunshot victim, later identified as Pellot, had been taken to Waterbury Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 4:57 p.m.
His death marked the city's 14th homicide of the year.
Remembered by his family for his infectious smile and immense passion for helping them, Xavier Pellot had attended Wilby High School and was employed as a refuge collector. His unexpected death left his family and friends shocked and deeply saddened. The Waterbury Police Department's Major Crimes detectives immediately began an investigation into the shooting.
The investigation led police to identify 43-year-old Clarence Rhodes as the primary suspect in Pellot's murder. Rhodes, a convicted felon, had an extensive criminal history that included gun, narcotics, and violent offenses. At the time of the shooting, he was out on a $125,000 bond for three other pending cases. After an arrest warrant was issued, the search for Rhodes extended beyond Connecticut.
With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Clarence Rhodes was located and apprehended in Jacksonville, Florida. He was extradited back to Connecticut to face a series of charges related to the death of Xavier Pellot. These charges included murder, criminal attempt at murder, criminal use of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal discharge of a firearm, and reckless endangerment. In addition, Rhodes was served with three outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court on his previous cases. His total bond was set at $2.45 million.
