Indictment Charges 2 Men with Offenses Stemming from 2015 Shooting at New Haven Restaurant

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging TYTHRONE FORD, 26, of Bridgeport, and TREIZY LOPEZ, 23, of New Haven, with robbery and firearm offenses stemming from the attempted robbery of a New Haven restaurant, during which an employee was shot, in April 2015.

This matter stems from a “cold case” investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the New Haven Police Department.  It is alleged that, on April 11, 2015, Ford and Lopez entered the Smokin’ Wings restaurant, located on Congress Avenue in New Haven, and demanded money at gunpoint.  Lopez subsequently discharged a firearm, shooting a female employee in the stomach.

The indictment charges Ford and Lopez with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  In addition, Lopez is charged with carrying, using, brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  Ford is charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Ford was arrested yesterday and is detained.  Lopez is currently incarcerated in state custody after being convicted of offenses related to a violent robbery in Bridgeport in April 2015.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter D. Markle, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, and Nathaniel J. Gentile.