Norwich Man Arrested in Connection with New London Shooting

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TREMAINE DOWDELL, 26, of Norwich, was arrested today on an indictment charging him with a federal firearm offense related to his alleged participation in an assault and shooting in New London in September.

On October 3, 2019, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Dowdell with one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

According to the indictment and statements made in court during Dowdell’s initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, video surveillance from the H&T Mart on Ocean Avenue in New London on September 14, 2019, shows four individuals assaulting a customer as the customer left the store.  Video captured Dowdell removing a gun from his pants and firing a single shot toward the victim of the assault.  When police arrived a short time later, officers found a .40 caliber cartridge casing at the location where Dowdell fired the gun.

It is alleged that Dowdell has prior state felony convictions for larceny, burglary and failure to appear offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

If convicted of the offense charged in the indictment, Dowdell faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Dowdell is currently detained.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the New London Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Norwich Police Department and Connecticut State Parole.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah P. Karwan and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Narducci of the New London State’s Attorney Office.