18-Year-Old Arrested, Charged In East Haven Thursday Daytime 'Street Robbery' With 'Shots Fired:' PD

EAST HAVEN, CT — Just before 2 p.m. Thursday, the East Haven Public Safety Communications Center received multiple 911 calls reporting a physical altercation and possible shots fired in the area of the rear parking lot of 687 Main St., police spokesperson Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said.

Witnesses reported several people running from the scene after hearing what they believed to be gunshots, Murgo said. When cops got to the scene, they found several people "involved in the dispute and a crime scene containing spent shell casings," Murgo said, adding that the people who remained on scene fully cooperated with police.

The juvenile victim said they had been robbed by a person they met online who had expressed interest in purchasing an item they listed for sale," Murgo said. "The victims stated that when they met up with the suspect and handed over the merchandise for sale, a struggle ensued."

That item was a watch.

The juvenile said that he and a friend met with the suspect to complete the transaction. After the watch was handed over, multiple attempts to complete an electronic payment through an app were unsuccessful, Murgo said, adding that a "struggle ensued" and, the victim said, at one point during the struggle, the suspect, later identified as Isiah Lee Falconer, 18, pulled a gun out and then a struggle for the gun.

"During the struggle for the firearm, Falconer fired several shots," Murgo said. "Fortunately, no one was struck or injured."

Police said that the juvenile victim managed to remove an extended magazine from the firearm left at the scene, in addition to several other pieces of evidence.

Falconer fled the area in a silver Nissan sedan in possession of the stolen watch, Murgo said.

Detectives quickly identified Falconer and made contact with him at his residence in Hamden, CT. He was taken into custody and was transported to the East Haven Police Department where he was processed. Isiah Lee Falconer, 18, of Burke Street, Hamden, CT was charged with:

• Robbery in the First Degree, C.G.S. 53a-134
• Reckless in the First Degree, C.G.S. 53a-63
• Threatening / Armed/Display Firearm in the First Degree, C.G.S. 53a-61aa(a)(3)
• Illegal Discharge of a Firearm, C.G.S. 53-203(a)
• Illegal Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, C.G.S. 53-202w(c)(1)
• Carrying a Pistol without a Permit, C.G.S. 29-35(a)(1)
• Larceny in the Sixth Degree, C.G.S. 53a-125(b)

Falconer was held on a $250,000.00 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on January 9, 2026 at G.A. 23, 121 Elm Street, New Haven, CT.

Anyone with video that may be relevant to this investigation is asked to contact Detective John Fraenza at jfraenza@easthavenpolice.com

.

East Haven Police remind residents to use extreme caution when selling items to strangers they meet online.

Please remember:

• Meet in a public, well-lit location. Preferably during daylight hours. Many police departments including ours, offer safe spaces for online transactions which are on video surveillance 24 hours a day.
• Bring another person with you whenever possible and let someone else know where you’re going and who you’re meeting.
• Do not hand over the item until payment is fully completed and verified. If using an electronic payment app, confirm the funds have transferred to your account before releasing the item.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off, rushed behavior, excuses about payment issues, or pressure to move locations, end the meeting immediately.
• Avoid sharing personal information, including your home address, school, or daily routines, and keep communication within the platform when possible.