WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — The man who shot and killed another man outside a restaurant in Waterbury last week turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday, police said.
Joseph Whitaker, 32, of Waterbury, turned himself in to Waterbury police after investigators identified him as a suspect in the shooting death of Lechard Santos, also of Waterbury. Whitaker was served with an arrest warrant and charged with murder, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal use of a weapon, illegal discharge of a firearm, and first-degree reckless endangerment.
Whitaker allegedly shot Santos, 32, outside of Bertie’s West Indian Restaurant at 928 North Main St. around 12:45 a.m. Thursday. Officers found Santos on the ground in the parking lot area, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital, where police said he died less than an hour later.
Police said Santos was involved in an earlier altercation outside the restaurant.
Investigators recovered a 2012 Silver Cura TL in Southington Thursday night that they believe Whitaker was driving.
Kijuan Curtis was inside his house next door when Santos was shot.
“There’s nothing but gunshots constantly, and I’m afraid a bullet might hit me through the window,” Curtis said.
This follows two deadly shootings over the weekend in Waterbury. With 10 homicides in the city this year, Waterbury has already matched the total from 2021.
“We’ve seen a 28% increase in gun violent crime year to date,” Waterbury Police Chief Fred Spagnolo said. “We’re trying hard to combat the issues going on.”
The police chief said while none of the recent shootings were random, they are not connected.
Whitaker is being held on a $2 million bond pending arraignment.
Anyone with information on the recent shooting is asked to contact the Waterbury Police Department at (203) 574-6941 or the anonymous tip line at (203) 755-1234.