On the evening of July 18, 2020, a young man's life was cut short in a burst of gunfire in a parking lot on Chase Avenue in Waterbury, Connecticut. Kayson Langhorn, a 22-year-old male, was shot multiple times and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined his death was a homicide caused by gunshot wounds to his torso and upper extremities.
The incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. when police responded to reports of gunfire.
Witnesses stated that the suspect fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV. Investigations by the Waterbury police led them to identify a suspect. In late September 2020, an arrest warrant was issued for 21-year-old Justin Cabrera. Police warned that Cabrera should be considered armed and dangerous.
In early October 2020, Justin Cabrera turned himself in at police headquarters. He faced a litany of charges, including murder, criminal use of a weapon, illegal discharge of a firearm, and first-degree reckless endangerment. He was held on a $2 million bond.
Ultimately, Justin Cabrera was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the death of Kayson Langhorn. The sentence was part of a plea agreement on charges of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit. During the sentencing, Kayson's father spoke in court, expressing the profound loss and devastation Cabrera had caused his family. Cabrera, who was also sentenced for a separate 2017 drive-by shooting, offered no apology or comments during the proceeding.
