Derby Teen, 17, Charged As Adult In New Haven Homicide: NHPD

NEW HAVEN, CT — In the predawn hours Nov. 1, Alexa Acevedo, 18, of Norwich and her friend Alissa Hamberg, 18, of Northfield, New Hampshire, were passers-by, innocently walking on a downtown New Haven street after celebrating Halloween when both were struck by flying bullets, critically injuring Hamberg, and killing Acevedo.

Though called a Halloween fatal shooting, by 2:30 a.m., it was Nov. 1, known as All Saints' Day, with All Souls' Day to follow. Police estimated that between 7,000 and 10,000 people, mostly Halloween revelers, packed into downtown New Haven. Hours after the festivities began, numerous shots rang out a block from Gotham Citi Nightclub. Police called the incident "an exchange of gunfire between two people in the area of Church Street and Center Street."

When the firefight was over, Acevedo was dead, Hamberg, who'd suffered a gunshot wound to the neck, was fighting for her life in the hospital, and Elijah Marrow, 20, of Derby and Charles Woodall, 18, of East Hartford were injured. It turns out that Woodall was not just a victim, but also a participant in the shooting, police said.

Tuesday, Mayor Justin Elicker, Police Chief Karl Jacobson and Assistant Chief David Zannelli held a media briefing to announce three arrest warrants, one for Woodall.

Police said that an injured Woodall arrived at the Yale-New Haven Hospital for treatment on his own accord prior to police arrival. And, investigators now say that not only was he a shooter that night, but that the whole incident "stemmed from an altercation between himself and several other people earlier in the evening."

The case was assigned to Detective Brandon Way, of the Major Crimes Unit, working under Sergeant Jeremy Mastroianni, and he was able to secure three arrest warrants for those involved in this incident.

Police said a juvenile male, whose case has now been turned over to adult court, Dalon Jett, 17, has been charged with murder, among myriad other charges. A third warrant is also outstanding for a male involved in the shooting. Police declined to provide details on the third suspect.

"Way’s investigation ultimately confirmed that Woodall" was walking on Church and Center streets among a crowd of passersby, which included Acevedo and Hamberg, who were not in the company of Woodall, when Woodall suddenly began shooting at a group of individuals walking on Center St. and Orange Street, striking Marrow, Zanelli said.

Jett and a "second adult male offender, returned gunfire, ultimately striking Woodall," Acevedo and Hamberg, Zanelli said.

It was later learned that Woodall, the juvenile and the adult male offender were in an argument with each other at one point earlier in the evening, Zanelli said

"After a complicated investigation, which included multiple interviews, search warrant applications, and in depth reviews of technological assets, lead Det. Way was able to secure three arrest warrant’s for all the individuals involved in this incident," Zanelli said.

Jett is charged with murder, criminal attempt at first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit. Jett, who Zanelli said was "already in custody on firearm related charges stemming from this incident," is currently being held on $2 million bond. "The firearm used in Acevedo’s murder was recovered by lead Det. Way during this investigation," Zanelli said, noting that Jett "was on probation at the time of this incident for firearm charges and was removed from GPS monitoring the day prior to the homicide."

Woodall was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, unlawful discharge of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit. On this case, Woodall is being held on $750,000. But when he was taken into custody Dec. 22 by Hartford police, "he was found in possession of the firearm he used during this incident," Zanelli said. Additionally, Woodall was charged by Hartford police with Carrying a Pistol Without a Permit, Weapon in a Motor Vehicle, possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, and had an additional $500,000 added to his bond.

And, Zanelli said Woodall had, at the time of his arrest, a second active arrest warrant from the South Windsor Police Department on robbery and firearm charges.

'Drowning in grief'

For the Acevedo family, even arrests and charges do little to mitigate their overwhelming grief.

According to a GoFundMe in Acevedo's memory, she was a "hardworking 18-year-old."

"She graduated from NFA in June 2025 and was currently attending CTState with many goals and aspiration," the GoFundMe reads. "She followed in her mother's footsteps with a passion for early childcare education and a love for her family and music."

At the news briefing Tuesday, members of Acevedo’s family, her mother, Ana Guzman, and her sister, Elena Acevedo, who are along with their family "drowning in grief," eloquently albeit heartbreakingly addressed reporters.

"Nothing will ever bring our baby back." What remains is the "quiet that aches in our hearts."

"My sister passed away due to gun violence. It left a big hole in my heart. It's sad how many people lose their lives to gun violence. My sister always liked talking about what is wrong and what is right with the world, and her biggest thing was gun violence. So for to be a bullet is the saddest thing ever," Elena Acevedo said, her voice quaking through tears.

She asked those who own guns and are contemplating using the weapon to hurt others to "please think twice."