Waterbury

Waterbury Woman Was Innocent Victim in Gang Rivalry: Police

Fransua Guzman died after she was shot in the head on October 11, 2018.

Waterbury police have identified nine suspected gang members facing charges in connection with the shooting death of a 30-year-old mother in October.

On October 11, officers responded to Walnut Avenue around 3 a.m. after neighbors heard gunshots. They found 30-year-old Fransua Guzman in front of 50 Walnut Ave., police said. She had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead at St. Mary's Hospital.

Police also found a 53-year-old woman, Darlene Mayzon, shot once in the stomach. Police said she survived, but remains paralyzed due to her injuries.

On Monday police said they’ve identified nine people suspected to be tied to the case.

“The Guzman murder, it's troubling to all of us. All of us in this room worked very hard to come to some resolution and give the family some peace,” said Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo.

Police said the shooting stemmed from a violent, ongoing back and forth between gangs in the city – the 960s, the ATMs and the Ave Boyz.

Investigators believe the women were innocent bystanders. 

Police said there were two shooters, who they identified as Gabriel Pulliam, 25, and Julian Scott, 20. They are each charged with murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit assault, along with various firearms charges. Both Pulliam and Scott are in custody.

Jermaine Gilbert, 21, Laderrick Jones, 27, and Dayquain Sinisterra, 21, are in custody on conspiracy of murder and conspiracy of first-degree assault charges. D’Andre Burrus, 25, is wanted on the same charges and remains at large, police said.

Three juvenile suspects have also been arrested. They each face conspiracy of murder and conspiracy of first-degree assault.

People who knew Guzman said she was a very good person.

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