Tonight on Connecticut's news station,
a 12 year old shot and
killed is laid to rest.
Sadness because he didn't.
His daughter was here.
And that I failed him to keep it safe.
Emotional reaction tonight as
advocates call for change.
I love this one.
I really want this one.
And representative comedy in court for
the first time after her DUI ar.
Her message to Connecticut
residents about sobriety.
It's the light at the end of the
tunnel we have all been waiting
for since Sunshine returning
just in time for the weekend.
That changes ahead coming
up plus Pandemic Downgrade.
The World Health Organization
saying COVID is no longer.
Never a global health emergency,
Tez heads unite.
It is a big weekend in the world of Tez.
I'm Jim Altman.
The story from Orange ahead
on the Fox 61 News now at six.
This is Fox 61 Connecticut's news station.
Good evening and thanks for
joining us for the Fox 61 News
at six. I'm Jen Bernstein. And
I'm Ben Goldman. New tonight,
State Representative Robin Comedy in court
for the very first time this morning,
Comedy is facing a DUI charge
after flipping her car near the
state Capitol back in March.
FOX 61's political reporter Emma
Wolfor spoke with Comedy this morning.
Emma joins us outside Hartford
Superior Court with what the
representative had to say. Emma.
In court today, the judge grantd
Comey's application to the Impad
Driving Intervention Program.
The judge said she feels Comey's
taken this situation seriously,
already doing more than most
people by admitting herself to n
inpatient program after the accident.
Comey tells me this morning shes
grateful for the second chance
and looking forward to getting
back to work at the Capitol.
State Representative Robin Comedy stood
before a judge in Harford Superr
Court Friday morning for a DUI charge
stemming from a car crash in Ma.
The Branford Democrat flipped
her Honda Civic on Capitol Ave.
in Hartford after hitting a parked car.
Police say Commis blood alcohol level was
nearly twice the legal limit at the time.
Friday, the judge ruled Comedy
will enter the state's impaired
driving intervention program.
If she's successful,
the DUI charge will be dismissed next year.
I think the steps she's taken to
address the issues that led to
the conduct would allow the
court to make a finding that
she probably. Will not offend
in the future.
Her attorney Chuck Tiernan says
comedy suffers from alcohol addiction
and entered a 39 day inpatient
treatment program immediately
following the accident Friday comedy,
saying she's very grateful
for this second chance. I'm
ready to move forward.
I'm feeling strong.
Speaker of the House Matt Ritter
stripped Comey of her committee
and leadership assignments in te
legislature after the crash Fri.
He released a statement saying Comey seems
to be in a good place and he's proud of
the work she has put in so far, He added.
Once she has fulfilled her legal obligations,
he looks forward to discussing her role at
the Capitol and assignments going forward,
something Comey is looking forward to also.
I will be returning before
the end of the. This is
hard stuff. Life is hard
stuff. I'm just grateful to
be given another opportunity to
serve this great state of Connecticut.
The legislative session ends
in less than five weeks.
Now, in order to complete this
Impaired Driving Intervention program,
Comey will have to undergo subse
abuse treatment and training,
as well as take a victim impact panel.
And she cannot have any new arrests or
drive until her license is reinstated
if she successfully completes.
This program she will have those
DUI charges dismissed on May 6t,
2024, reporting in Hartford,
Emma Wolf Forest Fox 61,
Connecticut's news station.
Emma, thank you, but we are following
breaking news out of Plymouth where police
have arrested a man on murder charges
in connection with a deadly shooting.
Last night police arrested 40
year old Charles Whitfield Junir
of Terryville on murder charges.
Police were called to the Gulf
Gas station on Main Street and
found 42 year old Philip Harrisf
New Britain shot multiple times.
Police say both men knew one another and are
calling the shooting an isolated incident.
Whitfield is being held on $2,000,000
bond and was arraigned in court today.
Well celebrating a life cut short and
remembering that life mourners gathering
in Bloomfield today to lay to r.
A Hartford 7th grader shot and
killed in the crossfire of a
drive by shooting two weeks ago.
Fox 61 Samaya Hernandez has been
speaking with loved ones at the
funeral for 12 year old Secret Pierce.
She joins us live outside of
First Cathedral Church Samaya.
Jen family members say Secret
Pierce was sassy and independen.
They say she believed that the
world belonged to her today.
Those family members had to
lay her to rest after she
was killed on city streets.
The body of a 12 year old girl
inside a casket drawn by horses.
A scene Pastor Sam Saylor never wanted to see
secret Pierce was two years oldt
her father Shane's funeral after
he was gunned down in Hartford.
His daughter was here, and that
I failed him to keep her safe.
Bloomfield's first cathedral overtaken
by a sea of purple and black.
Friday. Her favorite colors wer.
Purple and black, celebrating a
7th grader whose life was cut st
2 weeks ago when caught in the
crossfire of a drive by shooting
on Huntington St. in Hartford.
Her mother overcome, unable to .
This is a real trying time for all of us.
Secret was 12, I mean.
Who would have thought that this could
happen to her extra security in place?
Mourners patted down before
entering the sanctuary as police
continue to search for witnesses
and two suspects on the run.
Everybody in Hoffer right now is
holding their kids a little tig.
US Senators Richard Blumenthal d
Chris Murphy, both Friends of Secrets,
grandparents known gun violence prevention
advocates in the wake of Shane's death.
A young girl who loved
cinnamon buns and knitting.
She was an innocent victim,
having lost Shane 10 years ago
and now having lost his daughte,
you know, there's just no way to
understand what that means to a family.
And yet they're going to.
Soldier on for
the family soldiering on also
means defending secrets. Name. She was my favorite sister, and she did
not start trouble how people thought she
did. She didn't care about what
she did or anything, you know,
was a fun girl and seeking just.
We're looking for sweet justice,
not street justice.
We're looking for what we
got her father 11 years ago.
We have to stand in front of the
judge and hear the assailant,
the murderer,
apologize before his sentencing.
And Hartford police arrested
two young males who were also
shot in that same incident.
But they are still seeking 2
suspects they say got away,
one of which they believe pulled
the trigger that killed a secre.
If you know anything about that incident,
you were urged to contact Hartford police.
I'm live in Bloomfield.
Somaya Hernandez FOX 61,
Connecticut's news station. So
tragic. Somaya, thank you very .
All right, we have an update now
on the camper who's been missing
on the Appalachian Trail in Ken.
And apparently that camper
has been found safe foretold.
State police say 60 year old
Marta Renee Bowen was located
by rescue officials today.
She's been missing since Wednesday morning.
Bowen is being treated, we're t,
by emergency services for condin
though unknown by us at this tie
to New Haven now, where a man ws
shot and killed on Congress Ave.
It happened just after
6:00 o'clock this morning.
Police say the man identified
as Jitsu Kambu Garden of Meriden
was found on scene and taken
to the hospital where he died.
Coming up later this hour at 6:0
are Julia LeBlanc will have an update
on the investigation and what pe
are doing to prevent future cris
to Bloomfield now where police e
investigating A fatal 2 car crah
that shut down part of Blue Hills Ave.
there this morning.
Police say two cars crashed into
each other around 5:15 this morg
right between West Dudley Town
Road and Old Windsor Rd.
One car hit a pole,
The other caught fire after
hitting a building.
The driver of that car that caut
on fire was taken to the hospit.
The car that hit the pole had
five passengers inside of it,
1 pronounced dead on the scene.
The other four were taken to the hospital.
There's still no word on their
condition tonight.
Now the FOX 61 weather watch wih
Chief meteorologist Rachel Fran.
Finally, some much needed sunshe
and just in time for the weeken.
This is our last cooler and at s
unsettled day before we really
mix things up and not only is it
going to be drier this weekend,
but it will be warmer and brighter as well.
Taking a look at the radar,
you'll see a few scattered
showers that are out there.
They're really hit or miss in nature.
We've got one downpour just heading into
Newtown at the moment as we piva
little bit farther N Granby seeing some
rain that's heading towards Simsbury Will.
Likely end up clipping Canton and we've
got a batch of showers moving io
stores and Mansfield here at this time,
and another one right around Montville.
But in between these showers the
are other folks where you see te
dark and the black colors here.
This is where we're actually seg
more in the way of sunshine.
So some areas are getting wet,
others are brighter than they
have been in days,
and that little bit of sun
is a sign of what's ahead.
Temperatures right now are in te
mid 50s to right around 60 degr.
We'll see.
Temperatures tonight falling bak
into the low to mid 40s as we hd
towards Daybreak tomorrow and
tomorrow looks like a real Butt.
What what is this sunshine to
start to finish the day and warr
Temperatures up around 70 degres
and I think not only inland but
also at the Connecticut shorelie
as well with the wind coming out
of the north and the northwest.
No sea breeze tomorrow we'll haa
few more clouds for the second-f
of the weekend on Sunday,
but overall it's looking bright and even.
Warmer than tomorrow will be.
We'll show you the numbers and
take a look at how long it last.
Your full forecast coming up.
Thank you, Rachel.
All right, back to that
breaking news out of Plymouth,
where police have arrested a man
connection with a deadly shootig
last night at a gas station. Fo0
One's Gabby Molina joining us
live tonight in Plymouth with te
breaking details in the case. G.
Jen and Ben, that shooting happd
just before 10:30 last night ats
Gulf station right off of Main Street
in the Terryville section of Plymouth
last night and police now lettis
know that they have made an arr.
40 year old Charles Whitfield of Terryville
has been arrested and charged with murder.
Police say that he's being held
on a $2,000,000 bond and he was
arraigned in court earlier toda.
Now police say that he is accusd
of shooting and killing 42 year
old Philip Harris of New Britai.
Police say that they received multiple
911 calls for that shooting last night.
Officers were able to get here very quickly.
The Police Department is just.
Less than two minutes up the
street from here.
So they had a very quick response time
and were able to get here quick.
And police did say they took a
suspect into custody last eveni.
Now, we have been talking
to people in this area,
neighbors who said that they heard gunshots.
They shared with us that this is
not typical of this neighborhood
and they were very surprised tht
they did say there have been a
couple of robberies at the coupe
of gas stations here along Main.
The victim last night was takeno
the hospital and later pronouncd
dead at the hospital.
And again,
we are learning today that the
suspect has been charged with murder.
Now police say that both of thee
people were known to each other.
They say it's an isolated incidt
and that they don't believe thee
is any threat to the public.
We are continuing to follow thi.
And again, like I mentioned,
we've been talking to neighbors in this area.
We will have much more on that
tonight on the FOX 61 News at
10 and 11 live in Terryville,
Gabby Molina,
FOX 61 Connecticut's news stati.
Gabby, thank you.
Busy Friday afternoon here.
Let's go to breaking news out ow
Haven I-95 southbound Exit 48 here to I91.
Northbound's ramp is closed rigt
now because of an overturned du.
Truck drivers being sent right
off of Exit 2 onto I91 northboud
because of this crash.
Stay with FOX 61 for the latest
throughout the show as we learn
more about this incident.
And new tonight, the World Healh
Organization says Kovan 19 no lr
qualifies as a global emergency,
this move marking A symbolic end
to the pandemic that killed at
least 7 million people globally.
Fox 61's Brent Hardin joining us in studio
to explain what that exactly means. Brent.
Yeah, Jen and Ben.
This action reverses a declaratn
that was first made back on Jany
30th of 2020 when there were no
major outbreaks beyond China,
and in fact before the disease
had even been named Kovat 19.
For the past year,
World Health Organization expers
have been analyzing COVID-19 daa
to decide when the time is right
to lower its level of alarm.
Well, yesterday the experts
recommended that COVID-19 no lor
qualifies as a global emergency,
and The Who chief said
he accepted that advice.
However,
he says it's important to note
this does not mean COVID is
over as a health threat.
This virus
is here to stay. It's still kil.
And it's still changing. The
risk remains of a new of new
variants emerging that cause
new surges in cases and does.
Centers for Disease Control
Doctor Rochelle Wilinsky is
stepping down at the end of Jun.
She says The end of the health
emergency is a good time to make
a transition on her departure,
Wilinsky said in part.
I took on this role with the gol
of leaving behind the dark daysf
the pandemic and moving CDC and
public health forward into a muh
better and more trusted place.
The Connecticut Department of Pc
Health Commissioner also releasd
a statement saying in part quot.
It's important to note that thet
despite these announcements thae
COVID-19 virus has not been eliminated,
residents still should get vaccinated,
get the updated booster use at home tests,
stay home when they're sick,
and wear a high quality mask.
When respiratory viruses are
circulating at high levels in
their communities here in the U,
the public health emergency
declaration regarding COVID-19
is set to expire on May 11th.
And in Connecticut,
the commissioner said further
plans will be announced next wek
for the state's COVID-19 recove.
For a timeline on the COVID-19 emergency
and its impact here in Connecti,
just head to our website, fox61.
Ben, Jen, back to you.