Community Corner

Hospital: Stratford Fall Victim, 24, Has Died

A 24-year-old Stratford man fell out of a window after an assault at 8 Pond St. in Naugatuck last week, police say.

A spokesman for Waterbury Hospital has confirmed that 24-year-old Salomon Martinez has died.

Spokesman Matt Burgard confirmed the news with Naugatuck Patch Saturday morning. 

Martinez has been kept alive on a breathing apparatus but was believed to have no brain function after falling from the fourth floor of an apartment at 8 Pond St. in Naugatuck on Dec. 6. 

Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Friday night, there was some confusion about whether Martinez was still alive after police originally told the media that he had been taken off life support. Police later said they were wrong and that the family had not decided. Police said in an email they would make no more comment about Martinez's condition and that all information had to come from the hospital. 

Two men have been charged with assaulting Martinez and causing him to fall out the window, and police said they will likely face stronger charges in the coming days, perhaps manslaughter or even murder.

Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Those who have been arrested are Matthew Chandler, 20, of 24 Myrtle Ave., Naugatuck, and Kyle Gonzalez, 20, of 10 Anderson St., Naugatuck. They are imprisoned in lieu of separate $500,000 bonds. They have been charged with first-degree assault and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. They are expected to appear at Waterbury Superior Court on Jan. 30.

Police say the incident occurred after a night of heavy drinking at the apartment on Pond Street, a small side road off of Rubber Avenue. A police report states that a fight broke out after a game of beer pong, a binge drinking game. Police say they found blood stains in the apartment and glass all over the floor. Witnesses said Martinez smashed a large aquarium and hit a woman on the head with a computer monitor during the night. Police said they still do not know exactly how Martinez ended up going out the window, but they have reason to believe Gonzalez and Chandler are responsible. Police say they are not being cooperative with the investigation.

Lt. Bryan Cammarata, Naugatuck Police spokesman, has told Patch that, "Ultimately, what it's going to come down to is the only possible way (Martinez) went out the window is because of a scuffle in the apartment. He was either pushed out or he jumped out because he was trying to escape these guys. At no time did they try to help him."

Police were called to the apartment at 2:27 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 16, for a report of a fall victim. When police arrived to the multi-family house, Martinez was laying on the ground in a pool of blood, police say. 


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