In the early morning hours of a chilly December day, the life of 37-year-old Benny Jose Rosado, a Black / African American male, was cut short in New Britain, Connecticut. On December 13, 2015, shortly before 5 a.m., police responded to an anonymous call about a man being shot near 450 South Main Street. Arriving at the scene, they discovered Rosado in a back parking lot, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was quickly transported to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Rosado's death revealed that the location of the shooting was the site of an illegal after-hours club. Authorities reported that an altercation had taken place inside the unlicensed establishment, which was serving alcohol without a permit. According to witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene, Rosado had been acting aggressively and had pointed a gun at other individuals. In response to this, another man, 44-year-old Reynaldo Caban, a convicted felon who was not legally permitted to carry a firearm, drew his own weapon and shot Rosado. Police also noted that Rosado had discharged his firearm during the incident, but he did not strike anyone.
Following the shooting, the New Britain Police Department moved swiftly to shut down the illegal club and made two arrests in connection with the homicide. Reynaldo Caban was taken into custody and charged with criminal possession of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit. While not immediately charged with Rosado's death, he was held on a substantial $500,000 bond. Another man, 27-year-old Jose Bauza-Negron, was also arrested and faced charges of assault, tampering with evidence, carrying a pistol without a permit, and theft of a firearm. Police stated that after Rosado was shot, Bauza-Negron assaulted him and took his firearm from the scene. He was also held on a $500,000 bond, and both men were scheduled for arraignment in New Britain Superior Court.
