On the morning of December 26, 2020, a violent encounter at a Town Fair Tire in Orange, Connecticut, ended the life of 27-year-old Joshua Figueroa. A Black/African American male, Figueroa was a lifelong resident of New Haven and a graduate of Hillhouse High School. Just before 9 a.m., police responded to reports of gunfire at the Boston Post Road business. Upon arrival, they discovered Figueroa in one of the service bays, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on a suspect: Terrance Allen, a 24-year-old employee of the tire shop. The incident stemmed from a dispute that began the previous night. According to police reports, Allen had arranged to buy marijuana from Figueroa on Christmas night. During the transaction, Figueroa was reportedly showing off a handgun. Allen allegedly took the gun, stating he needed it more, which led to a confrontation. The following day, Figueroa went to Allen's workplace to confront him about the stolen firearm.
At the Town Fair Tire, the confrontation escalated tragically. Witnesses reported that Allen shot Figueroa multiple times in the service garage. After the shooting, Allen fled the scene but was arrested later that day at a hotel in Branford. He was initially charged with violation of probation and weapons charges. A year later, in December 2021, the charges against Allen were upgraded to include murder, tampering with physical evidence, and criminal possession of a firearm.
During the investigation, police learned more about the moments leading up to the fatal shooting. A coworker had acted as an intermediary for the drug deal the night before. After the shooting, Allen allegedly told his manager, "He had a gun. It was he or me." In an interview with police, Allen claimed self-defense, stating he believed Figueroa was reaching for a weapon. He also reportedly told investigators that Figueroa "should have shot him first." Allen has remained in custody since the day of the shooting, with his bond set at over $1 million.
