Man Grazed in Gunfire After Fleeing Rap Contest Shooting in New Haven

A man was injured during a shooting at a rap contest at a New Haven basketball court late Sunday night.

Police responded to the court near the intersection of Derby Avenue and Ella T. Grasso Boulevard at 9:38 p.m. on Sunday after receiving a 911 call.

Officers saw cars leaving an adjacent parking lot when they were arriving on scene. While they were interviewing people on scene, a 21-year-old Stamford man returned to get one of the DJ's equipment and told police he was shot just moments before. Police said he had a "graze wound to his lift clavicle."

Witnesses told police that gunfire was exchanged after the organizer of the rap contest refused to pay the contest winners as promised. Officers found bullet cases at two locations in the area.

Police said the names of the event organizers weren't identified and that there aren't descriptions of the people involved. They didn't get a permit for the event and the gathering on city property violated New Haven ordinances. In New Haven, you're required to get an assembly permit to hold an event of that nature.

The man shot told police there was a rap contest on the basketball court and that he ran from the scene when he heard shots fired. He was in his car when shots hit his windshield, damaging the glass, police said. He then realized that he was hit in the gunfire.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Police said they didn't recover any weapons.

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