NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Authorities have confirmed that 15-year-old Kaiden Phillips, a student and basketball player at Career High School, was fatally shot on Saturday night in New Haven.
According to Police Chief Karl Jacobson, Phillips was involved in a dispute with another individual that escalated, resulting in a gun being drawn. Police believe the shooting occurred on the grounds of Lincoln-Bassett Community School, which was closed at the time. Phillips was later found unresponsive near Bassett Street and Dixwell Avenue at approximately 7:55 p.m.
“By all accounts, he was a good kid,” Chief Jacobson said. Phillips was a student at Hill Regional Career High School and actively participated in basketball. Authorities note the incident may be linked to a series of altercations following high school football games, which police are currently investigating.
Mayor Justin Elicker described the shooting as “tragic” and emphasized that the city convened an emergency meeting with police and youth service providers to prevent potential retaliation.
Jacobson reported that Phillips is the fourth homicide victim under 45 this year in New Haven and the second 15-year-old killed, following Aaron Robinson on April 15.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Phillips’ death, and the community is left grappling with the loss of a young life with so much potential.