In the spring of 2021, the life of Dwaneia Turner, a 28-year-old Black woman from New Haven, Connecticut, was tragically cut short. On March 16, what began as a dispute between Turner and her former girlfriend, Brianna Triplett, escalated into a fatal encounter on Auburn Street. The two had been in a relationship for about two and a half years before a heated argument earlier that day led to their breakup.
The conflict continued through phone calls and text messages, culminating in a
physical altercation when they met again that evening. In the heat of the moment, after her car tire was slashed, Triplett retrieved a handgun she was legally registered to own. She then shot Turner in the back. A 28-year-old friend of Turner's was also shot in the hand but sustained non-life-threatening injuries. After the shooting, Triplett herself called 911, admitting to the shooting and informing them she was still armed.
When New Haven police arrived at the intersection of Legion Avenue and Auburn Street, they found Triplett with the firearm. Emergency responders transported Turner to Yale New Haven Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. At the scene, investigators recovered the handgun, four bullet cartridges, a chef's knife, and a knife sheath.
Brianna Triplett, then 32, was taken into custody at the scene. Initially charged with first-degree assault, the charges were soon elevated to murder, first-degree reckless endangerment, and unlawful discharge of a firearm. In February 2023, a jury convicted Triplett of murder. Two months later, she was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the killing of her former girlfriend.
Dwaneia Turner was remembered by her family and friends as a spirited and funny mother of two. Her loved ones described her as a family-oriented person who was a joyous and fun presence in their lives.
