Five people were injured when a gunman opened fire at the Brass Mill Center mall in Waterbury, Connecticut on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in what authorities described as a targeted attack stemming from a personal dispute.
The shooting occurred just before 4:40 p.m. when officers responded to reports of a disturbance at the 1.1-million square-foot shopping complex. Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo confirmed that all five victims, who ranged in age from 18 to their mid-20s, were transported to local hospitals with varying degrees of injury severity.
The suspect has been identified as 19-year-old Tajuan Washington, a Waterbury native who was out on $25,000 bond for previous charges, including reckless driving. Washington had been arrested in October for driving 105 miles per hour on Interstate 84 East and turning off his lights to evade state police.
According to Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr., the shooting resulted from Washington confronting another man with whom he had an ongoing conflict. The gunman used a semi-automatic pistol to shoot the male victim and four women who were with him near the mall’s main entrance. Spagnolo emphasized that authorities do not believe this was a random act of violence, stating the shooter and victims knew each other.
Video footage from inside the mall captured the aftermath of the shooting, showing one victim screaming in pain outside a store. The victim could be heard pleading for help, saying “I can’t move! Somebody help me!” Witness accounts described a chaotic scene as shoppers ran for safety and took shelter throughout the massive retail complex.
Police officers arrived at the scene within minutes of the initial 911 call and conducted a systematic sweep of the building, going store-by-store with K9 units to ensure the safety of anyone sheltering in place. Spagnolo praised both mall patrons and staff for their response during the incident, noting they helped keep people safe and calm during the evacuation process.
Washington was taken into custody as a person of interest late Tuesday night and was subsequently charged with five counts of first-degree assault, along with additional weapons charges. He is being held on a $2 million bond and appeared in court Wednesday. When authorities executed a search warrant at Washington’s residence, they discovered rifles, though they are still searching for the specific weapon used in the mall shooting.
By Wednesday morning, three of the five victims had been discharged from area hospitals. The remaining two victims were reported in stable condition, including one woman who sustained a spinal injury from the gunfire. All victims were adults, with ages ranging from 18 to the mid-20s according to police reports.
The investigation involves multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Waterbury Police Department, Connecticut State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Authorities are working to review surveillance footage and gather digital evidence from the scene.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont addressed the incident during Wednesday’s press conference, expressing concern about the escalation from a personal dispute to gun violence. The governor noted that what began as an argument resulted in someone using a semi-automatic weapon to fire seven rounds, seriously injuring five people. Lamont urged residents not to be intimidated by such incidents while acknowledging the serious nature of the violence.
The Brass Mill Center is located near Interstate 84 in Waterbury, approximately 33 miles southwest of Hartford. The city, which had a population of 114,403 as of the 2020 Census, has not experienced a mass shooting incident of this scale in recent memory.
Mayor Pernerewski assured the public that the mall remained safe for shopping, characterizing the incident as isolated rather than indicative of broader security concerns. Mall management and local authorities are reviewing security protocols in the wake of the shooting, though specific changes have not been announced.
The shooting represents one of several gun violence incidents reported across the country in recent days. Police continue to investigate the root cause of the dispute between Washington and the primary victim, while Washington’s family has been cooperating with the ongoing investigation, according to authorities.
