Community members lit candles outside Bucks Hill Market in Waterbury Wednesday night to remember the 61-year-old store clerk fatally shot during an armed robbery last week.
David Shand was left paralyzed after being shot in the neck at the store July 20. He later died of his injuries in what police are calling a homicide.
Nineteen-year-old Tony Dupre has been arrested in connection with the robbery, and police said Wednesday he could face additional charges for Shand's death.
Dupre is accused of shooting Shand at the market on Boyden Street around 11 a.m. last Sunday. Surveillance footage captured his image, police said.
According to the police case report, Dupre started piling items on the counter as the Shand was sweeping. When the Shand went to ring him up, Dupre shot him "without warning," then reached over Shand to grabbed more items before leaving the store, police said.
A man who went into the store heard Shand calling for help and found him 5-10 minutes after the shooting.
Those who know him are shocked and said they expected him to pull through.
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"I actually fell to the ground, I was that devastated about it," said Tammy Perrault, who stopped by the store on her way home from church and told Shand to "have a blessed day" as she walked out.
Perrault said his death is "hitting closed to home" and had no idea that would be their last conversation.
Customer Sabiel Vargas struggled to make sense of what happened.
"The guy didn't have to shoot him. There was no reason to shoot him," Vargas said. "He's truly going to be missed."
Shand's son stopped by the market Wednesday night. He said he's devastated by his father's death and wants justice for the person responsible.
Dupre was initially charged with criminal attempt at murder, first-degree robbery, larceny and interfering with an officer. He appeared in court last week and his bond was set at $1 million.