‘A nice young man’: Communities mourn Zion Burton, 15, killed at Fairfield party

In a statement Tuesday, Waterbury Public Schools said the district “is devastated by the news of the tragic loss of one of our former students.”

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends and ask that the entire community keep the family in your thoughts and prayers,” the statement said.

Burton, who police said resided between Bridgeport and Stratford, was also a former student in Stratford Public Schools. He transferred after middle school, according to Superintendent Uyi Osunde.

“The community of Stratford is saddened by this tragic loss, and our hearts and condolences go out to the young man’s family and friends,” Osunde said in a statement Tuesday. “Conversations with administrators suggest, as they talk to students, that ‘he was a nice young man, and got along well with his peers.’”

Because of Burton’s roots in Stratford, Osunde said some students who may have grown up with him were affected. Over the weekend, both high school principals mobilized their crisis teams, which included social workers, psychologists, administrators and school counselors. The crisis teams were on site Tuesday to provide support for students.

In a memorial for Burton Sunday, his mother, Carlaisha Brook, said her son was “sweet” and never caused trouble.

He even had his own bouncy house business for a year, she told Fox 61.

“You end up with a good kid, but you still lose him to the streets,” Brook said in the memorial.

In an interview with Fox 61, Brook questioned why her son had to die.

“Out of all the kids, who doesn’t do crap to nobody, I don’t know if he had a beef with anybody I just wanna know why this kid did this to my child,” she said to Fox 61.

Police said Burton was shot during a party in a banquet hall next to a church on Kings Highway East in Fairfield. The bullet that killed Burton also struck a female victim in the jaw, according to police.

Burton was taken to St. Vincent’s Medical Center and died from his injuries, police said. He died six days before his 16th birthday.

As of Monday, the other victim had been released from the hospital, according to police.

On Tuesday, police reported no major developments in the investigation. No arrests have been made, and investigators are “still actively pursuing several leads in this case,” Lt. Michael Paris said in an email.

Police have said between 150 and 200 people had gathered in the banquet hall for a birthday party Saturday evening. Around 10:30 p.m., authorities began receiving 911 calls for shots fired, according to police.

When officers arrived, they found Burton “unresponsive” inside the banquet hall. They provided him with medical attention before paramedics transported him to the hospital.

“A preliminary investigation revealed that a large party was taking place at the banquet hall, which was rented to a non-member and non-resident,” police said in an earlier statement. “A physical fight began and a single gunshot was heard causing several people in the banquet hall to disperse to the street.”

Fairfield police said three others suffered minor injuries unrelated to the shooting as people rushed to leave the banquet hall.

This story included previous reporting from Ethan Fry and Josh LaBella.