Woman Killed in New Haven Homicide Had No Enemies: Best Friend

Police have identified a woman who was killed in a shooting early Saturday morning in New Haven that police have ruled a homicide.

Officers responded to 66 Second St. at 1:36 a.m. after receiving 911 calls reporting multiple gunshots.
 
Officers located a female victim outside the back of the building suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. The victim, Mary Townsend, 48, of Dewitt Street in New Haven, was pronounced dead at the scene.
 
But Tywanda Coggins said she knows the woman, identifying her as her best friend, and said that the victim didn't have any enemies.

"I'm just hurt. I'm just trying to find out who would do this, because she was good to everybody around here," Coggins said. "She never did anything to nobody to have gotten killed down here."
 
Police found several bullet casings on site. They are investigating the possibility of this shooting being connected to a vehicle pursuit by officers from the scene to West Haven.
 
A car identified by witnesses seen leaving the crime scene was similar to the one involved in the pursuit.
 
New Haven police lost sight of the vehicle during the pursuit but later located it on Gretta St in West Haven after it crashed.
 
The male operator of that vehicle was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital where is listed in serious condition. No arrests have been made at this time, but police said officers are guarding him until detectives can interview him.
 
A neighbor said she heard a "pop, pop, pop, pop" that sounded like fireworks at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, but didn't hear the sirens. It wasn't until she woke up that she saw the police activity through her window.
 
Anyone with information on this crime is urged to speak with Detectives. They can be reached at 203-946-6304. 
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