Man Found Shot To Death, Another Hurt In Separate CT Highway Incidents

CONNECTICUT — One motorist was found shot to death and another was injured on state highways over the past month.

Police were called to a one-car crash scene around 3:20 a.m. Saturday on Route 7 near exit 2. John Gavilanes, 35, was found behind the wheel with gunshot wounds to his head and torso. He was declared dead at the scene, and the death is being investigated as a homicide.

Police haven’t released new information as of Tuesday, according to the Norwalk Hour.

Gavilane’s family launched a GoFundMe to pay for his burial. He was the father of a 3-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl. The GoFundMe was at $5,200 of its $15,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon.

In a separate incident, one person was injured in a shooting on I-91 near East Windsor in early January. The victim was operating a Honda Accord in the center lane of three when a dark-colored SUV pulled up and an occupant opened fire, state police said. The victim sustained non-life threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Editor's note: Story has been updated to reflect that the I-91 incident happened in January.