On a grim December morning in 2020, the life of 24-year-old Black / African American male Andrew David Stephenson Jr. was tragically cut short in a burst of violence inside a Bridgeport, Connecticut sports bar. The fatal shooting occurred on Sunday, December 20, 2020, at an establishment formerly known as Mango'z Sports Bar located on Connecticut Avenue. Stephenson was not the only person killed in the incident, which police have described as a double homicide.
Also losing his life was 19-year-old Jaheim L. Warren of Derby.
The shooting, which erupted at approximately 1:00 AM, also resulted in injuries to two other individuals. A 26-year-old man sustained serious injuries but was expected to survive, while a 21-year-old man suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. When police arrived at the scene, they were met with a large and uncooperative crowd, necessitating assistance from both Stratford and state police to manage the chaotic situation at the bar and at Bridgeport Hospital, where the victims were transported. The establishment was reportedly operating without a valid liquor license at the time of the shooting.
Bridgeport Police officials stated that their investigation suggests the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute. They have also indicated that the two surviving victims were likely not the intended targets of the violence. The investigation into the double homicide has been extensive, involving local law enforcement as well as federal agencies due to connections with other violent crimes in the area. In a related federal investigation, a Bridgeport man pleaded guilty in 2023 to lying to a grand jury that was looking into gang-related violence, a case in which Jaheim Warren had been implicated in a separate 2020 shooting. However, law enforcement officials stated that this earlier shooting was likely not connected to the incident in which Stephenson and Warren were killed.
As of late 2024, there has been no public announcement regarding any arrests or the identification of a suspect or suspects directly involved in the deaths of Andrew David Stephenson Jr. and Jaheim L. Warren. The case is considered an ongoing investigation. Authorities have repeatedly appealed to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case, urging anyone with knowledge of the events to contact the Bridgeport Police Department.
