Man killed in New Haven shooting

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- New Haven police are investigating the city's fourth homicide of the year.

20-year-old Tyrell Trimble was shot in the area of 344-346 Elm Street just before 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

The New Haven resident was transported to the Hospital of Saint Raphael, where he was pronounced dead.

This shooting did not occur at night and not on some dark street corner.

"High day, when people are walking," said Vanetta Smith, "like innocent people like us."

Witnesses told police a tan Chevy Astro van with Pennsylvania plates was seen leaving the scene just after the shooting. Police were able to find the van a short while later on Vine Street, but it was unoccupied.

"This city lost the fourth child of this city," said Chief Dean Esserman. "Shot and killed, I was at the emergency room at St. Raphael's and saw how hard the doctors and nurses worked to try and save him."

The shooting happened right across the street from the Stop & Shop plaza on Whalley Avenue, a high traffic area.

"It's the same supermarket I shop at, and I'm not scared," Esserman said.

However, there are some who are, but are putting their faith in the system, the department, to curb a problem that sometimes feels as constant as the rain.

"We come to the store to buy our stuff, you never know what's going to happen," said Smith.

Police are now asking that any witnesses who might have seen the suspects enter that van at the scene of the shooting or leave the van after parking it on Vine Street call police at 203-946-6304.