BRIDGEPORT — More than a dozen city police officers and judicial marshals managed to quell a large, angry crowd Thursday outside the Golden Hill Street courthouse following the arraignment of two men charged in the double fatal shooting outside a city gas station last month.
“There’s going to be trouble on the streets tonight,” one young woman, who would only identify herself as the sister of one of the victims, vowed as she loudly traded insults with some young men in a passing car. “You’ll see.”
Ramon Peguero, 32, of Hartford, and Kazzmaire Dorsey, 18, of Bridgeport, were shot to death July 10 outside the Atlas Gas Station on Fairfield Avenue.
Several dozen people, many wearing T-shirts bearing a photo of one of the victims, packed the back of the arraignment courtroom as 18-year-old Jahmir Daniel, who was accused of the shooting, was escorted into the courtroom on crutches.
Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton immediately cautioned the restless crowd to behave.
Daniel is charged with murder with special circumstances, two counts of murder and one count each of criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, reckless endangerment and third-degree larceny. The special circumstances charge carries a penalty of life in prison without release.
State’s Attorney Joseph Corradino urged the judge to set a high bond for Daniel because of the seriousness of the allegations.
But Daniel’s lawyer, Brittany Paz, urged leniency for her client.
Although police said Daniel has an extensive juvenile record, Paz pointed out that he has no adult criminal record, attended Central High School and lived his whole life in the city.
“This is a young man who is not a risk of flight,” Paz argued.
“The charges can not be more serious than they are,” Dayton retorted. She ordered Daniel held in lieu of $5 million bond and continued the case to Aug. 30.
Several people in the courtroom yelled as Daniel was led away. They were quickly escorted out by marshals.
“I just ask the public to reserve coming to a conclusion until we are able to review all the state’s evidence,” Paz said as she left the courthouse.
A few minutes later, 19-year-old Jack Vaz was led before the judge.
Police said Vaz attempted to hide evidence allegedly connecting Daniel to the murders.
He is charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.
Vaz is already awaiting trial in the court on risk of injury to a child, reckless endangerment and drug charges and Corradino urged the judge to set a high bond for him as well.
“His conduct is extremely problematic especially in light of the cases pending here,” the prosecutor said. “This indicates he is adverse to conforming his conduct to the law.”
Vaz’s lawyer, John R. Gulash, argued that his client surrendered to police as soon as he was informed there was a warrant for his arrest.
“He is taking this very seriously,” Gulash said.
Reviewing the pending cases against Vaz, the judge said, “Apparently that did zero to conform his behavior to the law.” She ordered Vaz held in lieu of $1 million on the murder case and added another $1,500 bond on his pending charges. She continued the case to Aug. 30.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the two victims were with a crowd of dirt bike and ATV riders at the Atlas Gas Station. The affidavit states that video surveillance shows Dorsey starting to ride off on a dirt bike when he is approached by two men on a white scooter.
The passenger on the back of the scooter pulled out a gun and began shooting in the direction of Dorsey, hitting him and also Peguero, who was standing nearby, the affidavit states.
The affidavit states that the suspects’ scooter, which had previously been reported stolen, was later found dumped in the woods behind the Madison Avenue library branch.
The affidavit states that witnesses told police that the driver of the scooter had gotten into a white sports utility vehicle which was later traced to Vaz’s home. However, the affidavit states that Vaz was uncooperative and claimed he lost the keys to the SUV.
Sometime later Lt. Jason Amato, of the gang task force, received information that Daniel was bragging on Facebook that he was responsible for the homicide, the affidavit states.
The affidavit states that surveillance video showed Daniel with the white scooter shortly before the crime. He was also wearing clothing similar to that worn by the shooter, the affidavit states.
It states that when police accessed Dorsey’s cell phone they found both texts and a voicemail from Daniel threatening Dorsey.
“I’ll come to you dolo just me and my gun,” one of the messages from Daniel stated, according to the affidavit.
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August 12, 2022 at 01:05AM
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Angry crowd attends arraignment in Bridgeport double homicide - CTPost
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