Patron Shoots, Kills Armed Would-Be Robber at Waterbury Cafe: Police

An armed man was shot dead by a customer while trying to rob a Waterbury, Connecticut, cafe and the customers inside, police said.

Police said they received reports of gunfire at Cafe Azzurri, at 500 Bank Street, around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday and found a man with at least one gunshot wound at the cafe and pronounced him dead at the scene.

On Monday, police identified him as Raphael Dillard, 26.

Witnesses told police Dillard had come into the café, wielding a gun, and tried to steal from the business and its customers, police said.

However, a patron who was carrying a legally registered handgun confronted him and shot at least once, killing Dillard, according to police.

Police seized the patron's handgun. They said he is cooperating with authorities. Waterbury police haven't filed charges against the shooter.

They are investigating the case as a homicide and said they will continue to investigate the shooting in collaboration with the office of the Waterbury state's attorney.

Contact Us