Just over twelve hours after the city’s 12th homicide of the year—a fatal stabbing behind a social club in Bridgeport’s East End—police made an arrest in connection with the incident.
At around 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Homicide Detectives took 40-year-old Ricardo Maldonado of Bridgeport into custody outside his Cowles St. residence, only blocks from the scene of the crime. Maldonado was charged with murder and is currently being held on a $750,000 bond.
The incident began early Friday morning around 3:00 a.m., when Stratford Police responded to reports of a person found bleeding near the intersection of Stratford Ave. and Bruce Ave. Officers identified the deceased as 29-year-old Kyle Allen Leblanc, who suffered multiple stab wounds.
Following this discovery, officers traced the primary crime scene back to the area behind the Thirty Plus Social Club at 1985 Stratford Ave. Bridgeport’s Homicide Unit, Major Crimes Unit, and Video Retrieval Unit worked throughout the day, leading to Maldonado’s arrest. Investigators determined the incident was isolated and that Maldonado and Leblanc were associates.
On 11-1-24, Shelton Police arrested 47-year-old Krzystof Bakota of Shelton and charged him with Malicious Killing of an Animal 1st Degree. Bakota was held on a $25,000 bond and brought to Derby Court for arraignment on 11-1-24.
The arrest stems from a report Shelton Police took from a family member of Bakota who stated she left her kitten in Bakota’s care while she was away. Bakota told her that the kitten went missing. The kitten was later found deceased in the backyard by another family member.
Bakota admitted to family members that he killed the kitten. He told another family member that the kitten was annoying him, so he threw the kitten against a table and then threw the kitten off the back deck.
The deceased kitten was taken to UCONN Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory for an autopsy. The report stated in part that the kitten had multiple skull fractures with marked hemorrhage. The cause of death was due to trauma to the left body wall and pulmonary hemorrhage. There was evidence of blunt force trauma, and it was highly improbable that the kitten was killed by another animal.
Access Health CT’s Open Enrollment Period is November 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais today announced that the open enrollment period for Connecticut residents seeking to enroll in health insurance plans for 2025 with Access Health CT, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, has begun effective this morning and continues through January 15, 2025.
Governor Lamont and Commissioner Mais are encouraging anyone in need of coverage or considering changing their coverage to take full advantage of this open enrollment period to research their options. This open enrollment period provides individuals and families the opportunity to review, compare, and select health and dental insurance plans for the upcoming year.
Consumers who enroll by December 15, 2024, will have coverage that begins January 1, 2025. Those who enroll between December 16, 2024, and January 15, 2025, will have coverage that begins February 1, 2025.
“I strongly urge any Connecticut resident who does not have health insurance to research Access Health CT’s options and enroll before the January 15, 2025, deadline,” Governor Lamont said. “Connecticut has a nation-leading health insurance marketplace that is delivering significant results in helping to reduce the uninsured rate and getting coverage to those who need it. Access Health CT has the support services available to help anyone fully understand their options and get them enrolled.”
Consumers can seek guidance from certified brokers, enrollment specialists, or Access Health CT’s online and in-person resources to help navigate the selection process. Throughout the open enrollment period, Access Health CT is organizing enrollment fairs and working with Navigator partners across the state to offer hands-on assistance to those enrolling or renewing their plans.
“Open enrollment is the time to ensure that you and your loved ones are covered,” Commissioner Mais said. “It’s important to explore all available health insurance options, understand what kind of coverage fits your needs, and consider factors such as premiums, out-of-pocket costs, network types, and the protections available under state and federal laws.”
In addition to the plans available through Access Health CT, both Anthem and ConnectiCare continue to offer off-exchange health insurance plans directly to consumers. These options may be ideal for those who do not qualify for subsidies or want to explore additional coverage choices. (For more information on off-exchange health insurance plans, visit the Connecticut Insurance Department’s website.)
Commissioner Mais is also advising consumers to utilize tools like the 2024 Consumer Report Card, which offers a comparative overview of health plans available in Connecticut.
Key Dates for Access Health CT open enrollment: Open enrollment period: November 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025Enroll by December 15: Coverage begins January 1Enroll between December 16 and January 15: Coverage begins February 1
There are several ways for customers to obtain information on Access Health CT’s health plan options and to enroll in those plans. They include:
The Bridgeport Police Department is investigating the murder of a 29-year-old man who was stabbed to death behind a social club in the East End of the city early Friday morning. The victim was identified as Kyle Allen LeBlanc from Southington, Ct. He was most recently residing in Stratford.
At approximately 3:00 a.m. on Friday, November 1st, the Stratford Police responded to a report of a person laying in the street bleeding near the intersection of Stratford Ave. and Bruce Ave. Officers subsequently found the victim there deceased, as a result of multiple stab wounds.
They then located what is believed to be the initial a crime scene behind the Thirty Plus Social Club at 1985 Stratford Ave. in Bridgeport.
Detectives from the Bridgeport Police Major Crimes Unit have processed both scenes. Bridgeport Police Homicide Detectives are conducting interviews and following substantial leads.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Detective Keith Hanson at: (203) 581-5243.
The Bridgeport Police Department sends its condolences to the family of Kyle Allen LeBlanc.
Firefighters are in the 200 block of Willow Street for a basement fire. Unconfirmed radio reports said everyone made it out of the building. The fire marshal is on scene to investigate the cause of the fire. The Red Cross has been called to help the families with their immediate needs.
In the area of the 1900 block Stratford Avenue, a victim was found with multiple stab wounds where he succumbed to his injuries, marking the twelfth homicide in Bridgeport in 2024. The earliest reports I have on this is from around 3 AM. More information to come.
I’ve received a number of texts from viewers of a large number of shots fired on the East Side near Noble/Kossuth/Jane Street area. So far no reports of anyone hit.
Joshua DeJesus, 25, of Bridgeport, was arrested by Westport police on October 30, 2024, on an outstanding warrant linked to a smash-and-grab larceny at Lux Bond & Green on May 9, 2024. DeJesus was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Larceny in the First Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Larceny in the First Degree, and held on a $250,000 bond; he was transported to Stamford Superior Court for arraignment on October 31, 2024.
