EAST HAVEN, CT — In the early morning hours of Aug. 6, 2022, a bar fight at a downtown pool hall spiraled into a shooting that left one dead and one injured.
Tuesday, after an extensive and thorough investigation, Willie Jamel Thompson, 46, of New Haven, was taken into custody without incident by the New Haven Safe Streets Task Force.
Thompson, who was charged with murder and several firearm charges, is being held on a $2 million bond and is set to appear in court today.
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It was around 1:30 a.m., when officers responded to BullsEye Billiards & Bar, 655 Main St., East Haven, for a report of a shooting. When they got there, they found that an argument inside the bar turned physical and ultimately led to a shooting, East Haven Police Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said at the time.
Three victims were treated by East Haven Fire Department personnel before being transported to Yale New Haven Hospital where one of the victims, Julius Bolden-Loew, 26, of Southington, would succumb to his gunshot wound injuries.
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Patch was on scene that hot August morning as police investigated. At the time, Murgo said that cops were in the area as it was bar closing time and arrived shortly after the shooting inside the “packed” pool hall and “encountered” one of the gunshot victims.
The murder at the billiard parlor and bar would lead just a few days later to the state pulling the bar’s liquor license, held by David Clough.
In a statement issued Wednesday, East Haven Police Chief Edward Lennon said the arrest “marks a pivotal moment in our commitment to delivering justice for Julius Bolden-Lowe and his family.”
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“Our detectives along with our law enforcement partners have worked tirelessly over the past two years to ensure that every possible lead was thoroughly investigated,” he said. “It is our hope that this arrest marks the beginning of closure and justice for the family of Julius Bolden-Lowe.”
This investigation, led by East Haven detective Jon Trinh and other members of the East Haven Police Investigative Services Division along with State Police Major Crimes, FBI New Haven, D.E.A. New Haven, and the New Haven States Attorney’s office spanned several years of tireless and unwavering investigative efforts, Murgo wrote in a release early Wednesday.
“Detective Trinh’s tenacity, attention to detail, and commitment to seeking justice for Julius Bolden-Lowe were instrumental in making this arrest,” he wrote. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Julius Bolden-Lowe. While this arrest cannot undo the pain of their loss, it is our hope that this step brings them some measure of peace. The East Haven Police Department remains committed to seeking justice for all victims and holding those responsible and accountable for their actions. We thank the community for their continued support and cooperation throughout this investigation.”
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