'He Was Targeted,' Chief Says Of Slain Teen, 15, Who Cops Now Identify

NEW HAVEN, CT — Just after 3 p.m. Tuesday, a 15-year-old New Haven boy, Aaron Robinson, was shot by mask-wearing gunmen near his Greenwood Street home, police said.

New Haven Chief of Police Karl Jacobson told reporters the teen was targeted. And, Jacobson noted that CCTV and the community have already been instrumental in their investigation.

When police first arrived to the scene on Greenwood between Legion and Sylvan avenues, they found Robinson in a nearby yard, who suffered apparent gunshot wounds.

He was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital via ambulance, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Detectives responded to the scene to investigate.

"This was a tragic and senseless murder in which a 15-year-old boy was killed in what looks like a targeted attack," Jacobson said. "We are actively investigating this case and I encourage anyone with information to reach out to our detectives."

In a Facebook video post from 2021, an 11-year-old Aaron rode with Gorilla Lemonade co-founder (with Brian Burkett Thompson) and Eat Up catering owner Kris Threatt to help feed the homeless and other folks in need: "Doing good deeds today." The boy is seen out in the rain giving food to people in the street, and engaging with them.

An athlete, he played football for the Meriden Raiders. On the team's Facebook page Wednesday where it shared the heartbreaking news, it was noted that the boy, "Aaron Jr., known to us as Westbrook ... AJ was the type of athlete to leave an impression on and off the field."

Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information valuable to investigators to call detectives at 203-946-6304 or through the department's anonymous tip-line at 866-888-TIPS (8477).