The Waterbury community is mourning the loss of 20-year-old Daniel Peart, who was fatally shot in the head early Wednesday morning, May 6, 2026. Peart, a resident of Hartford, was found unresponsive inside a blue Hyundai in the 100 block of Easton Avenue. Police responded to reports of shots fired and a gunshot victim around 3:14 a.m. and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Officers located Peart suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head inside the parked vehicle. The shooting occurred in a residential area near Jonathan Reed Elementary School and Tudor Street. Neighbors reported hearing a single gunshot, with one resident describing hiding after the sound. The incident has left the neighborhood shaken.
Waterbury police shut down a large portion of Easton Avenue for more than 10 hours as investigators processed the scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner responded, and Peart’s body remained at the location until shortly before noon. The blue Hyundai was later towed away as evidence. Detectives from the Waterbury Police Detective Bureau are leading the active homicide investigation.
This fatal shooting marks another act of gun violence in the city. Peart was not a Waterbury resident but was found in the city’s area during the early morning hours. No suspects have been publicly identified, and limited details about the circumstances or possible motive have been released as detectives continue gathering evidence.
The proximity of the shooting to Jonathan Reed Elementary School has heightened concerns among residents about community safety. Neighbors expressed sadness and hope for safer streets in the area. Police conducted a thorough canvass of the neighborhood, checking homes and surrounding areas during the extended investigation.
Waterbury police continue to seek information from the public. Anyone with details about the shooting is urged to contact the Waterbury Police Detective Bureau at 203-574-6941 or provide an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 203-755-1234. The case remains open and ongoing with no arrests announced.
