A New Haven man entered guilty pleas this week to charges connected to a 2023 shooting that left 26-year-old Tyrese Blue Jr. dead, prosecutors said. The plea, filed on the first day jury selection was to begin, resolves a case that has been under investigation by local law enforcement and the state's attorney's office.
Guilty pleas and expected sentence
According to a news release from State’s Attorney John P. Doyle Jr., 28-year-old Lewis Santiago changed his plea to felony murder and firearm possession.
"The court is expected to impose a prison sentence of 35 years to serve," the release said.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 16 in New Haven Superior Court. The plea agreement calls for the court to impose the 35-year term, prosecutors said.
Case background and prosecution team
Prosecutors say the killing occurred during an illegal sale of a firearm in 2023. The case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Adrienne Russo and Deputy Assistant State's Attorney Dean Hanafin, assisted by Inspector Michael Mastropetre. State’s Attorney Doyle also thanked lead detective Gregory Dash of the New Haven Police Department and other officers who worked on the investigation.
- Defendant: Lewis Santiago, 28
- Victim: Tyrese Blue Jr., 26
- Charges: Felony murder; firearm possession
- Expected sentence: 35 years to serve
- Sentencing date: Sept. 16, New Haven Superior Court
Local consequences and context
Plea agreements in homicide cases typically resolve contested factual and legal issues short of trial, and they also lock in a sentencing recommendation to the court. For victims' families and for the broader community, the agreement brings a set timeline for final adjudication but also forecloses a public jury trial that would have examined the evidence in open court. The prosecutors involved cited a lengthy investigative effort by New Haven police and state investigators.
The declaration that the shooting occurred during an illegal firearms transaction underscores an element that local officials and public-safety advocates frequently highlight: the intersection of illicit weapons activity and violent outcomes. The expected long sentence, if imposed by the court, will reflect the seriousness with which the state treats a murder charge tied to illegal firearm activity.
Next steps
All parties will return to New Haven Superior Court on Sept. 16 for the sentencing hearing. Under the terms announced by the state’s attorney, the court is expected to impose a 35-year term to serve as the disposition of the case.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Lewis Santiago, 28 |
| Charge | Felony murder; firearm possession |
| Victim | Tyrese Blue Jr., 26 |
| Expected sentence | 35 years to serve |
| Sentencing | Sept. 16, New Haven Superior Court |
