Jury: Man, 26, Guilty Of Manslaughter For Role In Fatal 2020 Shooting

NEW HAVEN, CT — Monday, a New Haven Superior Court jury found Jaison Flowers, 26, guilty of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an "innocent bystander," in 2020, according to State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr.

Flowers, of New Haven, was convicted of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm as well as criminal possession of a firearm, Doyle said, adding "Flowers also admitted to being in violation of probation at the time of the homicide."

Doyle said evidence presented at trial showed that on July 14, 2020, "Lewis was an innocent bystander picking up his child from a hair appointment on Munson Street when he was killed by gunshots that were fired from a tan Honda Accord driven by Flowers."

Doyle said one of the shots struck Lewis in the chest, and he later died from his wounds at Yale New Haven Hospital.

"In a recorded interview, Flowers claimed he fired in self-defense after another driver pulled a firearm on him," Doyle said. "The jury rejected his self-defense claim. At the time of the shooting, Flowers was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous felony conviction."

Sentencing is set for May 13.