In the early hours of December 20, 2020, tragedy struck outside a former sports bar in Bridgeport, Connecticut, claiming the life of 19-year-old Jaheim L. Warren, a Black/African American male from Derby. The establishment, formerly known as Mango'z Sports Bar, located at 456 Connecticut Avenue, was the scene of a chaotic shooting at approximately 1:00 AM. When police arrived, they encountered a large and uncooperative crowd.
Warren was one of four people shot in the incident.
He, along with 24-year-old Andrew Stephenson of Bridgeport, succumbed to their injuries after being transported to Bridgeport Hospital. Two other men, aged 26 and 21, were also wounded. The 26-year-old sustained serious injuries but was expected to survive, while the 21-year-old's injuries were considered non-life-threatening. Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute and that the two surviving victims were not the intended targets.
The investigation into the double homicide was complicated by the circumstances at the venue. Authorities noted that the former Mango'z Sports Bar was operating without a valid liquor license. The ownership of the bar and the reasons for it being open at the time of the shooting became part of the ongoing investigation. In the days following the incident, a small memorial of balloons and candles appeared outside the building, which bore the marks of numerous bullet holes.
This was not the first time Jaheim Warren had been a victim of gun violence. Earlier that same year, on January 27, 2020, he was injured in a shooting in front of the Golden Hill Street courthouse. In that incident, the car he was sitting in with three other men was riddled with bullets. Warren suffered a gunshot wound that grazed his ribs. While federal prosecutors charged five men in connection with that courthouse shooting, police indicated that it was likely not connected to the December incident that claimed his life. As of late 2023, there have been no public announcements regarding any arrests or identified suspects in the murder of Jaheim Warren and Andrew Stephenson. The investigation into their deaths remains ongoing.
