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The 18-year-old victim, Caval Haylett Jr., was shot around 9:55 p.m. Wednesday March 9, as he stood with a group of people outside 104 Winnikee Ave., police said.
He was taken to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital where he later died.
Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison issued a statement on the tragedy Friday decrying the shootings and saying that the entire city was mourning Haylett’s loss.
“Too often, we hear of senseless acts of violence taking the lives of young people in our country,” Rolison said. “Today, this tragedy has struck our city.”
Rolison offered condolences to the family and friends of the victim, who he called a “gifted and generous young man.”
The city is, the mayor said, "committing every resource to bringing this man’s killer to justice."
Seconds after Haylett was gunned down, another 18-year-old was shot in the arm as he walked through the intersection of Bement Avenue and Harrison Street, police said. The latter survived his wound.
Police said Friday that it does not know if two groups were shooting at each other, but it does not appear that either victim was the intended target.
Most of the people in the group had left the scene by the time police arrived, they said.
Anyone with any information about this shooting is asked to call the police department’s confidential tip line at (845) 451-7577.
Meanwhile, officials at Poughkeepsie High School where Haylett was a senior, are offering students and staff counseling and have tightened up security measures while the investigation is under way.
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