20‑year‑old Daniel Peart was fatally shot in the head inside a blue Hyundai on Easton Avenue in Waterbury, Connecticut, around 3:15 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Police shut down the area near Jonathan Reed Elementary School for more than 10 hours, but as of May 10, 2026, no arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.
Peart was discovered by officers responding to reports of gunfire in the 100 block of Easton Avenue near Tudor Street and Jonathan Reed Elementary School. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed his identity and cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head.
Neighbors reported hearing a single gunshot. Alton Ebron, who lives nearby, said: “I heard a pow. I was hiding. When you hear a shot you duck and cover.” Another resident, Luis Gonzalez, emphasized the danger of such violence occurring so close to a school, saying: “Nobody wants something like this to happen on their street, especially close to the school; that’s not even right.”
Police closed off Easton Avenue for more than 10 hours, with investigators combing through grass, trash cans, and front lawns for evidence. The blue Hyundai SUV was towed away just after noon once Peart’s body had been removed. Detectives were seen photographing the vehicle and canvassing the neighborhood for surveillance footage.
Community members expressed frustration about rising violence in Waterbury. One neighbor told FOX61: “This city just gets crazier by the day.” Others voiced concern for children walking past the crime scene as buses dropped them off later that morning. Residents stressed the need for safer streets and stronger community policing.
The homicide has prompted renewed calls for safety improvements in Waterbury. Residents like Jeffrey Mitchell noted that while programs such as the Police Athletic League (PAL) and new school initiatives are trying to help youth, more support is needed to prevent violence.
The Waterbury Police Detective Bureau continues to investigate. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact detectives at 203‑574‑6941 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 203‑755‑1234.