A burst of gunfire shattered the afternoon peace in New Haven’s Fair Haven neighborhood on May 21, 2020, at the corner of Lloyd and Wolcott streets. In the aftermath, Roberto Rivera, a 34-year-old Hispanic man, was found with a life-threatening gunshot wound to his head. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries the following morning.
Two other men were also wounded in the triple-shooting but survived their non-life-threatening injuries.
From the outset, police characterized the shooting not as a random act of violence, but as a targeted attack. They believed Rivera was the intended victim. Following the shooting, Rivera managed to make his way partially up Lloyd Street before he collapsed. At the time, authorities disclosed they had several promising leads but did not name a suspect, urging the community to come forward with any information that might help the investigation into what was the city's fourth homicide of the year.
For over a year, the case continued to be investigated by the New Haven Police Department. The efforts of the homicide unit eventually led to a significant breakthrough. On October 30, 2021, police arrested an 18-year-old male in connection with Roberto Rivera's death. Because the suspect was 17 years old at the time of the shooting, his name was not publicly released as he was charged as a juvenile. The charges against him included murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and carrying a pistol without a permit. Investigators stated their belief that the fatal shooting was an act of retaliation.
