Suspect in Mitchell Dubey Murder Arrested
Mitchell Dubey, an avid cyclist and musician, was gunned down one year ago.
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2012 | Updated 4:05 PM EDT
Tashaun Fair has been charged with the murder of Mitchell Duby.
New Haven police have arrested a teenager accused of killing an avid cyclist and musician in March 2011.
Police said they have charged Tashaun Fair, 19, of New Haven, with home invasion and the felony murder of Mitchell Dubey. They said witness interviews and forensic evidence helped police identify Fair as a suspect and the break in the case came over the weekend.
Dubey was shot and killed during a brutal home invasion at his Bassett Street apartment on March 24, 2011.
On the night of the crime, Dubey answered the door at his apartment and a man with a gun forced his way inside, his roommates said, and demanded that Dubey and his roommates sit on the couch and empty their pockets.
Dubey was shot in the chest while trying to reason with the man. He was pronounced dead at the Hospital of St. Raphael's.
"I think it was a crime of opportunity. We believe he saw Mr. Dubey get out of his car and start walking into the house, and that Mr. Dubey was known as someone to have some money. He had a job, so he had money," Assistant Police Chief Archie Generoso said.
According to police, Fair expected Dubey and a roommate to be in the house, but several friends were in from out of state. He did not expect so many people, got scared, shot Dubey and ran off, police said.
Police identified Fair as a suspect early on.
However, his face was covered during the home invasion, according to police, and witnesses were not able to identify him from lineups or photos.
But an informant did come forward and identified Fair.
"I’m pretty sure that a year-and-a-half later, he had thought he had gotten away with it, so it was good to see the look on his face when he realized he didn’t get away with it," Police Sgt. Tony Reyes said.
According to court records, Fair was charged with third-degree criminal trespass in 2011.
He was charged with third-degree robbery in September 2011, convicted and sentenced on June 25, 2012, according to court records. The New Haven Register reports that the arrest was for stealing a scooter that was parked in front of a church.
Bond in this case was set at $3 million.
Fair's family was in court on Wednesday and they said they are devastated by his arrest.
