(New Haven, CT) - New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. today announced that a jury in New Haven Superior Court on March 10, 2025 found Jaison Flowers, age 26, of New Haven, guilty of one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree with a Firearm, in violation of General Statues § 53a-55a.
Evidence presented at trial established that on July 14, 2020, Howard “Foot” Lewis was an innocent bystander picking up his child from a hair appointment on Munson Street when he was killed by gunshots that were fired from a tan Honda Accord driven by Flowers. One of the shots struck Lewis in the chest and he later died from his wounds at Yale New Haven Hospital. In a recorded interview, Flowers claimed he fired in self-defense after another driver pulled a firearm on him. The jury rejected his self-defense claim. At the time of the shooting, Flowers was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous felony conviction.
The case was presented before a jury in New Haven, with the Honorable Maureen M. Keegan presiding. In a charge tried before the court, Judge Keegan also found Flowers guilty of one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, in violation of General Statutes § 53a-217. Flowers also admitted to being in violation of probation at the time of the homicide.
State’s Attorney Doyle wishes to extend his gratitude to the New Haven Police Department for their investigation of this case. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorneys Alexander C. Beck and Gregory L. Borrelli, with assistance from Inspectors Kevin Grenier and Eric Tracy.
Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Keegan on May 13, 2025 in New Haven Superior Court.