WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Police Search for Killer of Young Murder Witness, Mother (Bridgeport-WTNH) _ No arrest yet in the murder of an eight-year-old witness to a murder and his mother. The two were shot and killed in their home Thursday. are Police are not speculating on a connection between the boy and the killing he witnessed but the public certainly is. News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports. Gunned down in their home after grocery shopping Thursday night, the search continues for the killer of Karen Clarke and her 8 year old son, Leroy Brown, Junior. Police say this case is tough for more reasons than one. Lt. Mathew Cuminotto Jr., Bridgeport Police Dept.: "I don't care how many homicides you've investigated it's always touches you when it involves a juvenile." The murder of 8-year-old Leroy Brown Jr has hit police even harder because he was a key witness in the murder of his own father that happened at a barber shop here on Boston Avenue a year ago. Police would not say if they suspect the same man killed father and son, but the 8-year-old was to testify later this month against 26 year old Russell Peeler. Peeler's attorney, Gary Mastronardi, calls any attempt to connect his client to the boy's killing reckless. In a statement, he says: "The defense was aware of [Leroy Brown's] statements for months. If Russell Peeler wanted he could have done it a long time ago." State Representative Chris Caruso says whether or not Peeler is a prime suspect in the child's murder, Brown should have been in some sort of witness protection program. Caruso's calling for a state investigation into why he wasn't. Rep. Chris Caruso, (D) Bridgeport: "When an individual steps forward to become an eye witness or a witness to any crime - it's incumbent upon the state to provide necessary protection especially in case of a murder because if you don't do that they people are less likely in the future to testify." The state says even without Leroy Brown, they have evidence to convict their suspect. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH-TV A LIN station.

Police Search for Killer of Young Murder Witness, Mother
(Bridgeport-WTNH) _ No arrest yet in the murder of an eight-year-old witness to a murder and his mother. The two were shot and killed in their home Thursday. are Police are not speculating on a connection between the boy and the killing he witnessed but the public certainly is.
News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports.

Gunned down in their home after grocery shopping Thursday night, the search continues for the killer of Karen Clarke and her 8 year old son, Leroy Brown, Junior. Police say this case is tough for more reasons than one.

Lt. Mathew Cuminotto Jr., Bridgeport Police Dept.: "I don't care how many homicides you've investigated it's always touches you when it involves a juvenile."

The murder of 8-year-old Leroy Brown Jr has hit police even harder because he was a key witness in the murder of his own father that happened at a barber shop here on Boston Avenue a year ago.

Police would not say if they suspect the same man killed father and son, but the 8-year-old was to testify later this month against 26 year old Russell Peeler. Peeler's attorney, Gary Mastronardi, calls any attempt to connect his client to the boy's killing reckless. In a statement, he says:

"The defense was aware of [Leroy Brown's] statements for months. If Russell Peeler wanted he could have done it a long time ago."

State Representative Chris Caruso says whether or not Peeler is a prime suspect in the child's murder, Brown should have been in some sort of witness protection program. Caruso's calling for a state investigation into why he wasn't.

Rep. Chris Caruso, (D) Bridgeport: "When an individual steps forward to become an eye witness or a witness to any crime - it's incumbent upon the state to provide necessary protection especially in case of a murder because if you don't do that they people are less likely in the future to testify."

The state says even without Leroy Brown, they have evidence to convict their suspect.

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