15-year-old boy shot and killed in New Haven

NEW HAVEN, CT (WFSB) - Police are investigating the homicide of a 15-year-old boy on Saturday night in New Haven.

Authorities confirmed the teenager was shot and killed around 8:30 p.m. near the intersection of Bassett Street and Butler Street.

It happened just steps away from Lincoln Bassett Community School.

This is now the city’s 14th homicide victim of the year.

Police have now provided an update and said they are already following good leads.

Near the area of the shooting, there are a number of cameras seen outside Lincoln Bassett school.

As for the response to this tragic shooting, the police, the mayor, along with city staff, held an emergency meeting on Monday morning offering support, while also trying to prevent any type of retaliation.

“I grew up around here, I know it very well,” noted Brandon Nelson of New Haven.

Gun violence in New Haven, sadly is nothing new. But for Brandon Nelson learning the latest victim, Kaiden Phillips is just a 15-year-old kid is tough to hear.

“Its sad, it is, my heart goes out to the family,” expressed Nelson.

A fellow New Haven teen reacted after hearing about the homicide.

“A young 15-year-old lost his life outside. I don’t know. It’s crazy,” said Tyquann Pride Dean Jr. from New Haven.

New Haven Police told us Phillips was part of group of kids on Lincoln Bassett School property, when he was shot on Saturday night.

“We’re finding that most of the people were either present or somewhere in the area, with information are either 15 or younger, so this case is difficult,” explained New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson.

On Monday, Police Chief Jacobson told us, it appears there was some sort of fight Friday night after a football game leading to this weekend’s shooting.

Detectives said they are working on a number of leads, but need help including from those teens who were there.

“We need people to do the right thing, we need people to come forward,” added Chief Jacobson. “It’s about protecting the next kids in the city. It’s about getting justice for his family, but it’s very much about protecting the other kids in the city.”

We’re told social workers and counselors were at Kaiden’s school, Career High School to help students and teachers and that police and city staff will be meeting with at risk teens, hoping to prevent any retaliation.

“I talked with his grandmother earlier this morning and you put all your love into a young child and someone decides to play God and take them away from you and it’s just not okay. And we’ll do everything we can as a city,” said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.

Career High School’s principal told Eyewitness News, this is a terrible loss.

“Kaiden was a hard worker, a solid student who held down a job and was active in the community. He loved basketball. He was a personable young man and well liked by his fellow students and his teachers, who already miss him greatly.”

Part of Butler Street was closed off for the police investigation.

Neighbors told Eyewitness News they were concerned about crime in the area and wanted to teach teenagers how to stay away from violence.

“Be a leader not a follower. Do the right thing. Be good and stay in the house and don’t go out of the house mad late. You can’t trust everybody out here,” added Dean Jr.

Police originally said the boy was 13, but have since clarified he was 15.

No further information was released.

Channel 3 has a crew on scene. Refresh this page for updates.