On a late Saturday morning, July 17, 2021, the life of 28-year-old Davonte’ Warren, a Black male from New Haven, was tragically cut short in North Haven, Connecticut. The incident, which marked the first homicide in North Haven in over a decade, unfolded near the intersection of Dixwell Avenue and the Route 40 connector. Multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire in the area prompted a police response. Upon arrival, officers discovered Warren inside a vehicle, having sustained a gunshot wound. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Initial investigations revealed that the shooting was not a random act of violence. Eyewitnesses reported seeing another vehicle pull up alongside Warren's car. Two individuals from the second vehicle then fired multiple shots into Warren's car before both vehicles sped away from the scene. The Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad was called in to assist the North Haven Police Department with the investigation into the brazen daytime shooting.
For over a year, the case remained under active investigation. Then, in January 2023, a significant breakthrough occurred with the arrests of two New Haven men. Amari Salcedo Jr., 22, and Deane Matta Jr., 24, were both charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Warren's death. The arrests brought a renewed sense of hope to the community and Warren's family that justice would be served.
Several months later, in June 2023, a third suspect was taken into custody. Elder Mellado, a 23-year-old resident of New Haven, was arrested with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Task Force and other local law enforcement agencies. Mellado faced charges of conspiracy to commit murder and criminal liability for the acts of another concerning murder. Police officials affirmed their commitment to holding all those responsible for the violence accountable for their actions.
