Hamden Man Killed In Bridgeport Shooting: Police

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Bridgeport police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 46-year-old man early Sunday at the P.T. Barnum housing complex.

Several callers reported a person shot at the complex around 1 a.m., according to Homicide Det. Jeffrey Holtz. Officers found Johnny L. Nesmith outside Building 21 with multiple gunshot wounds. He was unresponsive and was taken to Bridgeport Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Recent records listed a Hamden address for Nesmith, who had also lived in Bridgeport, police said.

Nesmith's death marked Bridgeport's sixth homicide of the year, according to police.

Homicide detectives gathered information at the complex through the early morning hours on Sunday, while Major Crime detectives spent several hours processing the scene.

The shooting occurred hours after a P.T. Barnum reunion for residents was held Saturday at a park across the street from where Nesmith was found. Police said a crowd was near Nesmith when he was shot and are asking witnesses to provide information to investigators.

"We know this is traumatic for the persons who were there, as well as the residents of P.T. Barnum as a whole," Det. Holtz said. "However, as difficult as it is, we need the community's help to make it safer and also get Mr. Nesmith's family justice."

Anyone with information can contact Detective Laura Azevedo-Rasuk, who is leading the investigation, at 203-581-5235.