A convicted felon barred from having guns has been found guilty in the murder of a teenager who was fatally shot in Waterbury in 2022.
A jury in New Haven Superior Court returned the guilty verdict on one count of murder on Tuesday against 28-year-old Frankie DeJesus of Waterbury, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.
The charge stems from the fatal shooting of 18-year-old William Beltran of Waterbury who was found suffering from gunshot wounds in the 100 block of Willow Street on July 20, 2022, after officers responded to the area on a report of shots fired, DCJ officials said. The teen was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the DCJ, the evidence presented at trial included “scientific” and cell phone evidence as well as witness testimony. Officials noted that DeJesus is a previously convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm.
DeJesus was charged in the teen’s death five days after the killing when investigators with the Waterbury Police Department obtained a warrant for his arrest.
“The case was investigated by the Waterbury Police Department and prosecuted in New Haven by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Gregory L. Borrelli and State’s Attorney Doyle, who were assisted by Inspector Michael Mastropetre and Paralegal Specialist Diane Kosiorek,” the DCJ wrote in a statement announcing the conviction.
“State’s Attorney Doyle would like to extend his gratitude to Lead Detective Cathleen Knapp and the Waterbury Police Department, the Office of the Chief Medical and the Division of Scientific Services within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, particularly the Firearm and DNA analysis sections, as well as the New Haven Office of the FBI for their analysis of cellphone and cellphone data,” DCJ officials said.
DeJesus remains held in custody while he awaits sentencing, which has been scheduled for Dec. 16.
