An argument on Whalley Avenue that moved to nearby Dickerman Street ended in gunfire on the afternoon of August 25, 2025, leaving 26-year-old Daiquan Hyman dead. Hyman, a Black/African American man from East Haven, and 32-year-old Ernest Williams of New Haven were found with multiple gunshot wounds around 2:12 p.m. Both were taken to Yale New Haven Hospital; Hyman was pronounced dead shortly after arrival and Williams died later that evening.

Investigators say the dispute began as a group confrontation and that the men agreed to a fair one fight before it turned fatal. Surveillance video from stores and Ring cameras, acoustic gunshot detection, phone location data and credit card records were used to reconstruct events. Video reportedly shows Hyman was shot while attempting to crawl away and then struck by four additional shots.

On September 5, 2025, police arrested 39-year-old Sergio T. Thomas of New Haven and charged him with two counts of murder; he was taken into custody in Waterbury and held on $3 million bond. Authorities say Thomas had a valid pistol permit for a 9mm handgun consistent with the weapon used. The defense has indicated an intent to assert self-defense, saying Thomas intervened to protect his brother in a dispute tied to a dating relationship.

Did anyone in the area see the confrontation on Whalley Avenue or the movements on Dickerman Street that afternoon?