Man shot and killed in home invasion

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - A shooting took the life of a 23-year-old New Haven man Thursday night in a home invasion and robbery.

The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Mitchell Dubey, a bike enthusiast and musician who worked at The Devil's Gear Bike Shop downtown.

It happened just after 10:00 p.m. on Bassett Street near Winchester Ave. in New Haven. Police say a man knocked on the door and forced his way into the house, shooting Dubey in the chest. Five others were also in the apartment at the time of the incident.

But this isn't the first time police responded to the address -- last week someone broke in and stole computers and other electronics.

"Nothing about a connection to last week's robbery?"
"There's no way for us to know that right now. Obviously we're looking into all of that but there's nothing to indicate that right now," responded Sgt. Tony Reyes, New Haven Police Department.

Neighbors say Dubey and his roommates were nice guys. They moved in in November and already had made quite an impression.

"They had a band in the basement and they'd be having a good time playing music. They were friendly people," said neighbor Marshall Curry.

"When we had a great big snow storm him and Mitch and Andy came out and they helped us dig out at least five different cars on the street, and I mean that was a lot of snow. So when I came home and found out somebody in that house had been shot I was terribly upset," said neighbor Albertha Nelson.

His co-workers at the bike shop say Dubey's generosity was infectious.

"You wanted to do more for people, you wanted to do more for society because of people like Mitchell," said Matthew Feiner, The Devil's Gear Bike Shop.

The monthly Critical Mass bike ride was held Friday evening in Dubey’s honor.

"It will become an outlet for people. It will be place for people to come and express themselves and to be together as a community," said Feiner. "He was really looking forward to the ride tonight, and it gave people the opportunity to come together."

The bicycle ride that was planned weeks ago turned into an event in Dubey's honor. They started at the town green, making their way to his house on Bassett Street. Some were in disbelief as they went past his house.

"It was hard. You know his car is there, you see his stuff is out, you know he lived there. My concern is to family, his mom, his dad, his sister," says Feiner.

The evening run ended at The Devil's Gear where Dubey could fix almost anything. This ride was important for so many people. His bike was noticeably absent, his spirit was not.

Police say the incident does not appear to be a random act of violence. No suspects have been identified and no arrests have been made.