Store Owner Shot and Killed in New Haven Was Targeted: Police

The owner of a New Haven smoke shop who was shot and killed on Tuesday afternoon was targeted, police believe.

The shooting happened around 1:36 p.m. E&M Smoke Shop, at 545 Ferry St. in the Fair Haven section of New Haven.

The owner of the store, 21-year-old Muhanad Jawad, of New Haven, was pronounced dead just before 2 p.m. at the hospital. 

After looking at evidence and surveillance video, police said the motive was not robbery. Jawad has several pending criminal cases for charges including gun theft, drug dealing and assault on a police officer.

Police said the gunman is a male who was wearing a black shirt or hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.

Police looked into the possibility that four people taken into custody after a police pursuit of a stolen vehicle were connected with the incident, but police said Tuesday evening that the cases were not connected.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call detectives at 203-946-6304. 

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