Gunfire broke out between two separate parties at a Connecticut event venue, leaving one person dead and another two wounded, police said.
The violence unfolded inside So Blu’Niq, a rental hall in Waterbury, on Monday around 1:20 a.m., NBC Connecticut reported. When officers arrived on the scene — located in the Mall View Shopping Plaza on Sharon Road — they found three people suffering from gunshot wounds.
One of the victims, identified by police as 29-year-old Shaquille Morris, of Waterbury, succumbed to his injuries a short time later and was pronounced dead on the scene. A 39-year-old woman and a 44-year-old woman, both from Waterbury, were also shot. Their injuries were determined to be non-life threatening and they have since been treated and released from the hospital.
Their names have not been released.
Police said two private events were happening inside So Blu’Niq when the gunfire began. It was preceded by a confrontation between groups of people from both parties, which quickly escalated into violence. One of Morris’ relatives, who did not wish to be identified, said the tensions were initially sparked by the type of music being played. The witness added that Morris had earlier made brunch for a Mother’s Day celebration at the event hall.
“He made the food,” the relative told WTNH. “He was standing around, and a guy from the other side of the club just opened fire. And, unfortunately, he and two other people were shot.”
Authorities believe the people attending both of the parties knew each other.
No arrests have been made and an investigation into the matter is ongoing. Anyone with information in the case has been asked to call the Waterbury Police Department Detective Bureau or the Crime Stoppers tip line.
