Police make fourth arrest in connection with fatal shooting of CT teen

Police have arrested a fourth suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a teenager in Waterbury last fall.

Jada Ellis, 20, of Waterbury was apprehended in Bristol on Friday and charged with conspiracy to commit murder and weapons in a motor vehicle, according to Lt. Ryan Bessette of the Waterbury Police Department.

She was held on a $250,000 bond and was expected to be arraigned on Monday in Waterbury Superior Court.

Bessette said Ellis is the fourth person to be charged in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Joseph Zavala of Waterbury on Nov. 18, 2023. Zavala was dropped off at the emergency room at Saint Mary's Hospital just after 7:30 pm and was found to be suffering from a gunshot wound.

Zavala was initially listed in critical condition before he succumbed to his injuries, Bessette said.

Investigators later learned that the shooting occurred in the area of ​​North Main Street and Kingsbury Street.

Authorities in the days after the shooting obtained an arrest warrant for 20-year-old Duane Mercer of Waterbury. He was arrested on Nov. 23, 2023, and charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, illegal discharge of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment and carrying a pistol without a permit.

Mercer remains held on $2 million bond while his case is pending in Waterbury Superior Court. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, court records show.

Investigators later obtained a second warrant in connection with Zavala's slaying and arrested 19-year-old Nigel Robinson of Waterbury on Dec. 12, 2023. He was charged with the same offenses as Mercer in addition to one count each of criminal possession of a firearm and criminal use of a firearm.

At the time of Robinson's arrest, Bessette noted that his previous felony convictions involving firearms offenses disqualified him from having guns or ammunition.

Robinson is being held on $3 million bond and has also pleaded not guilty to all charges, record show.

On Feb. 29, police made a third arrest in connection with Zavala's killing, arresting 16-year-old Terron McCray on the same charges as Robinson, according to Bessette. He was apprehended in Bristol with assistance from the US Marshals Task Force.

McCray has been held on $3 million bond since his arrest and has also pleaded not guilty, records show.

According to Bessette, McCray has been charged as an adult.