Naugy teen charged with shooting car

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NAUGATUCK-A nearly two-month old police investigation into a shooting incident culminated with the arrest of a borough teenager.

Juan Ayala, 19, of 50 Manners Ave. was arrested on Dec. 23 and charged in connection with an incident that occurred at the intersection of Theresa and Nixon streets the night before Halloween.

Police said Ayala fired a rifle several times at a car, hitting it once, he thought was carrying some adversaries. But, police said, the car actually belonged to his girlfriend’s father, who was driving it at the time.

Ayala was charged with criminal attempt at assault in the first degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of a loaded rifle in a motor vehicle, weapons in a motor vehicle, and breach of peace.

The shooting was the result of a long-standing dispute Ayala had with several other Naugatuck residents, police said.

A week before the shooting, police said, Ayala beat another resident with a baseball bat, an incident that was never reported.

Police said some of the victim’s friends went looking for Ayala on Oct. 30, and showed up at his girlfriend’s house. Police said the group demanded to know where Ayala was, and displayed what was believed to be a handgun. The gun was later determined to be a BB gun, police said.

After the group left in search of Ayala, police said, his girlfriend called him to let him know what happened. Ayala then got two .22 caliber files and went searching for the group, according to police.

Police said Ayala spotted a car at the intersection he thought the group was in, and shot at it. Ayala didn’t know the car belonged to girlfriend’s father, police said. His girlfriend and another passenger were also in the car at the time, according to police.

Ayala was held on a $750,000 bond and was scheduled to be arraigned in Waterbury Superior Court on Dec. 28.