New Jersey Men Arrested in Fatal Fitchburg, New Haven Shootings

Jonathan Reyes-Contreras, a 42-year-old New Jersey man, was arrested and charged in connection with a fatal shooting on Mechanic Street in Fitchburg. The incident occurred early on August 3, 2025, when police found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound outside a vehicle; the victim later died at the hospital. Authorities stated that the victim and Reyes-Contreras were known to each other and that the incident appears isolated with no ongoing threat to the public. Reyes-Contreras faces charges including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling and is expected to be arraigned in Fitchburg District Court. Neighbors expressed shock and concern over the shooting, highlighting worries about community safety despite reassurances from law enforcement. The case remains under investigation by local and state law enforcement agencies.