On the evening of December 3, 2021, a burst of gunfire shattered the night in Bridgeport, Connecticut, leaving a 37-year-old man, Jalen Parilla, with a fatal gunshot wound. The incident occurred around 9:20 p.m. in the vicinity of West Avenue and West Liberty Street. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Parilla, a resident of Stratford, suffering from his injuries. He was quickly transported to St.
Vincent's Medical Center, but he succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead a short time later.
The investigation into the shooting swiftly identified a suspect: Miguel Rojas, then 28, of Bridgeport. Witnesses at the scene identified Rojas as the individual who shot Parilla. Further investigation revealed a history of stalking, with law enforcement discovering that Rojas had been tracking both Parilla and his own ex-girlfriend, who was Parilla's current partner. In a modern twist to a tragic crime, it was found that Rojas had placed an Apple AirTag on Parilla's vehicle to monitor his movements. Rojas was the father of two children with the woman Parilla was dating.
In the days following the shooting, the Bridgeport Police Department publicly identified Rojas as the suspect and sought information regarding his whereabouts. On December 6, 2021, just three days after the fatal encounter, Miguel Rojas surrendered to the police. He was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with Parilla's death. In March 2024, as his case was approaching trial, Rojas, then 30, chose to plead no contest to first-degree manslaughter with a firearm. This plea meant he did not admit guilt but would not contest the charges. A judge then found him guilty. On May 1, 2024, Miguel Rojas was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the killing of Jalen Parilla.
