In the early morning hours of October 11, 2018, a tragedy unfolded in Waterbury, Connecticut, that claimed the life of 30-year-old Fransua Guzman, a Black or African American female, and left another woman paralyzed. Known to her friends as "Frankie," Guzman was a devoted mother of four children. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. when both Guzman and her friend, 54-year-old Darlene Mazon, were standing outside a residence on Walnut Street.
In a sudden burst of violence, both women were struck by gunfire. Guzman was fatally shot in the head a short distance from her home, while Mazon was hit in the abdomen, resulting in a severe spinal injury that left her paralyzed. Both victims were rushed to a local hospital, where Guzman was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting revealed a grim reality: the two women were innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire of a violent feud between rival gangs. Waterbury police determined that the shooting was connected to an ongoing conflict involving the 960s, ATMs, and Ave Boyz gangs. Members of the 960 gang were reportedly seeking retaliation for the death of one of their own and had targeted Walnut Avenue. It is believed they mistook Guzman and Mazon for members of a rival gang.
In the months that followed, law enforcement made significant headway in the case. By July 2019, authorities announced the arrests of nine individuals in connection with Guzman's murder and the assault on Mazon. The suspects, a mix of adults and juveniles, were identified as members of the "960" gang. Among those charged were Gabriel Pulliam and Julian Scott, who faced murder, first-degree assault, and conspiracy charges. Other individuals, including Jermaine Gilbert, Laderrick Jones, Dayquain Sinisterra, and D'Andre Burrus, were charged with conspiracy. Burrus, who had initially fled the state, was apprehended in November 2019. In the years that followed, several of the suspects faced the judicial system, with some pleading guilty to federal charges, including racketeering conspiracy, for their roles in the gang's activities that led to the tragic and senseless death of Fransua Guzman and the life-altering injuries sustained by Darlene Mazon.
