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Updated Saturday, 2:37 p.m. Saturday.:
NORWALK, Conn. A Norwalk man was pronounced dead Friday night at Norwalk Hospital after at least three shots were fired at him behind a Norwalk apartment building in the city's first homicide of 2012, police say.
Joseph Bateman, 20, was next to the rapids of the Norwalk River when he was fatally shot, on a walkway behind the Avalon Gates Apartments at 26 Belden Ave.
Bateman was also shot a little more than a year ago, on New Year's Day 2011. He was also connected to the 2010 shooting death of Amos "A.J" Brown Jr.
Bateman was shot at about 5:41 p.m. Friday. Witnesses said a group of teenagers ran up to the victim after the shooting and said police arrived quickly and performed CPR. They said three shots were fired. Police had three markers on the sidewalk, in an area cordoned off by police tape.
Bateman was arrested in 2010 in connection with Brown's death. Police said Bateman was at the scene of that fatal shooting Aug. 13, 2010, near Lexington Avenue in South Norwalk and was operating one of the vehicles involved.
On Jan. 1, 2011, he was shot in the face. Bateman walked into the emergency room of Norwalk Hospital, seeking assistance. He was able to talk but "less than cooperative," police said. Police found three bullet holes in his white Jeep Cherokee but did not know how old they were.
Residents of the apartment building expressed concern about the type of people using the scenic walkway behind the building. A man walking his dogs said "all sorts of lowlife" cut through, attracted by the betting business and the bus terminal on the other side, and the courthouse across the street.
Many comments were on Twitter on Friday night that seemed to refer to the shooting. "Norwalk is out of control," said one. "Norwalk not even safe nomore smh (shaking my head) dont knoe whats ganna happen," reads another.
"Seem like you gotta get outta norwalk if you wanna live," "losing good people at young ages ! R.I.P all the beautiful souls" and "This is why I hate Norwalk Man.. smh R.I.P Jab" indicated that the word had gotten around.
Another said: "My heart goes out to the family who lost their son in Norwalk today :( so sad these things happen. God Bless"
Detectives were actively pursuing several leads in Friday night's homicide. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Norwalk Police Detective Bureau at 203-854-3011 or 203-854-3192. All calls will be kept confidential.
Original story:
At least three shots were fired at a man behind a Norwalk apartment building Friday evening in what Norwalk police confirm was a shooting. They offered no details on the shooting victim's identity or condition.
The shooting happened at about 5:44 p.m. at the Avalon apartment complex on Belden Avenue, Lt. Paul Vinett said. Witnesses say they heard three shots. Police have the walkway between the apartment building and the river cordoned off with police tape.
Witnesses say a group of teenagers ran up to the victim after the shooting. They said police performed CPR on the victim, who was taken to Norwalk Hospital, where a crowd reportedly was beginning to form.
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