Five people were wounded in a shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, Connecticut, on May 27, 2025, when a dispute escalated into violence at the shopping mall. The incident occurred just before 4:40 p.m. near the mall’s main entrance, prompting a large-scale police response and evacuation of the 1.1-million square-foot shopping complex.
The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Tajuan Washington, opened fire after confronting another man with whom he had a history of conflict, according to Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. The gunman struck the targeted individual and four women who were with the victim during the confrontation.
Washington was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and fired seven rounds during the incident, officials reported. All five victims, ranging in age from 18 to their mid-20s, were transported to area hospitals for treatment. By May 28, three victims had been discharged, while two remained hospitalized in stable condition, including one woman who sustained a spinal injury.
The suspect was arrested and faces five counts of first-degree assault along with additional weapons charges. He is being held on a $2 million bond and was scheduled to appear in court on May 28. Investigators discovered that Washington was already out on a $25,000 bond for separate charges, including reckless driving and evading police after being caught driving 105 miles per hour on Interstate 84 East in October 2024.
Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo emphasized that the shooting was not a random act of violence. Officers responded to reports of a disturbance at the mall and arrived at what Spagnolo described as a chaotic scene within minutes of the gunfire erupting around 4:45 p.m.
The shooting forced numerous shoppers and mall employees to shelter in place throughout the massive shopping center. Mall staff guided people to safety and helped maintain calm during the emergency response. Police conducted a methodical search of the facility, going store by store with K9 units to ensure no additional threats remained.
Video footage from the scene captured the immediate aftermath of the shooting, showing one victim outside a store expressing distress and calling for help. The footage illustrated the panic and confusion that ensued as the incident unfolded in the central area of the mall.
Spagnolo noted that officers were initially uncertain whether an active shooter remained on the premises, leading to extensive security measures. The Waterbury Police coordinated with Connecticut State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the investigation.
When authorities executed a search warrant at Washington’s residence, they discovered rifles, though investigators are still searching for the specific firearm used in the mall shooting. The police chief indicated that digital evidence was being collected as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont attended the press conference on May 28 and urged residents not to be intimidated by such incidents. He characterized the event as an escalation from what should have been a simple disagreement. “This started out with some sort of a beat, some sort of an argument,” Lamont stated, referring to how the dispute transformed into a violent confrontation.
The mayor reassured the public that the mall was safe for shopping, describing the incident as a one-off event rather than a broader security concern. He praised the response of both law enforcement and civilian personnel who helped manage the crisis.
The Brass Mill Center is located at 495 Union Street in Waterbury, approximately 33 miles southwest of Hartford. The city has a population of 114,403 according to the 2020 Census. The shopping center serves as a major retail destination for the region.
Police officials confirmed that no fatalities resulted from the shooting, though the extent of injuries varied among the victims. The incident prompted discussions about mall security measures and the ongoing challenges of preventing disputes from escalating into violent confrontations in public spaces.