New Haven teen, 17, shot during attempted robbery, police say

NEW HAVEN >> A 17-year-old shooting victim was in stable condition Tuesday night after he was found wounded on Gibbs Street, police said.

The James Hillhouse High School student had been shot not far from the corner of Dixwell Avenue and Gibbs Street around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to Sgt. David Zannelli. He was shot once in the right hip. Police found multiple shell casings at the scene.

The victim ran to 79 Gibbs St., where people in the neighborhood called police. The Police Department Shotspotter system also registered the gunfire, according to Sgt. Al Vazquez.Police believe the victim was shot during an attempted robbery, said police spokesman Officer David Hartman.

Neno Philogene said he was working in a yard on Gibbs Street when he heard shots.

“It’s not safe,” he said. “There is no telling, you just do what you have to do.”

Police investigate the shooting of a 17-year-old on Dixwell Avenue Tuesday. Police investigate the shooting of a 17-year-old on Dixwell Avenue Tuesday. Photo: Melanie Stengel — New Haven Register Photo: Melanie Stengel — New Haven Register Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close New Haven teen, 17, shot during attempted robbery, police say 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Police canvassed the area later Tuesday morning. Many had congregated a block away on West Division Street, not far from where a memorial for Errol Marshal, 19, still stands. Marshal was found dead on the front porch of 295 Division St. in July.

In a press release, Hartman said police are searching for two men who allegedly shot the victim.

Police, school and hospital officials are working together on the case, Hartman said.

Hartman, in a press release later Tuesday, said “there has been no information provided to investigators indicating wether or not” the victim had been on his way to school. “What is known is that school begins at 7:30 (a.m.) and the shooting was reported at 8:36 (a.m.).”

Hillhouse Principal Kermit Carolina declined to comment and referred questions to school spokeswoman Abbe Smith.

Superintendent of Schools Garth Harries said in a statement that he visited the victim at the hospital and mobilized support for his family during the recovery.

“I am deeply saddened and troubled that an act of gun violence has touched one of our students, and therefore our school community.” he said. “As a school system and a city, we owe it to every one of our students to support and engage them in a way that sets them on a positive path and prevents tragic outcomes.”

Firefighters extinguished a fire on 95 Gibbs St. not long after the 17-year-old was shot. The two incidents are unrelated, Hartman said.

Register reporter Shahid Abdul Karim contributed to this story.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of the story reported the 17-year-old was shot several times in the stomach.