WATERBURY, Conn. – A man shot and killed a 16-year-old girl in a vehicle before the car crashed in Connecticut, police said.
Dominique Pittman, 27, of Waterbury, was charged Tuesday with murder in the Monday night death of city resident Evelyse Santiago, a high school student.
Officers responded to the crash around 8:30 p.m. They found Pittman and Santiago inside the vehicle. Santiago had been shot twice in the head and once in the hand. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Pittman was taken to a hospital for minor injuries. He was then taken to the Waterbury Police Department, police said.
Police believe Pittman and Santiago had been in a relationship.
"Something occurred throughout the night that created this tumultuous situation to the point where Pittman shot Santiago," said Waterbury Deputy Chief Fernando Spagnolo.
Authorities said the firearm used in the shooting was recovered from the vehicle.
School officials said Santiago had recently transferred from Crosby High School to Wilby High School. Grief counselors were available for students at both schools.
Pittman is being held on $1 million bond. He will be arraigned Wednesday in Superior Court. It wasn't immediately clear Tuesday if he has an attorney.
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This story corrects the spelling of the victim's first name to Evelyse, from Evalyce.
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