[UPDATE] Meriden Police Charge Man in Connection With Homicide, Robbery

Update at 2:30 p.m.:

Willie Breyette was arraigned this morning in Meriden Superior Court on charges that he is an accomplice to the robbery and shooting that occurred on June 27 and left a Meriden storeowner dead.

Breyette, 25, of New Britain is formally charged with aiding and abetting first-degree robbery and hindering prosecution. He is being held on a $500,000 bond and will next appear in court on July 17 in New Haven.

No further information about Breyette's involvement in the incident is available. A superior court judge sealed Breyette's arrest warrant until July 17 as the investigation continues.

After his court appearance this morning, Breyette's father, Arthur, spoke to members of the media, according to reports in the Hartford Courant and the Meriden Record Journal.

According to the publications, Arthur Breyette said that his son had given Frankie Resto, a man that police identify as a person of interest in the case, a ride home that night and that the two stopped at the EZ Mart to get a drink. Arthur Breyette said that his son was not aware of what was to happen next. 

Original story:

Police have arrested Willie Breyette, 25, in connection with a robbery and shooting death of a local convenience store owner, according to police.

Breyette, of New Britain, is charged with being an accomplice to first-degree robbery and hindering prosecution, according to Meriden Det. Lt. Mark Walerysiak. Breyette is being held on $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court today.

On June 27,  and killed by  at 271 E. Main St., pointed a handgun at Ghazal and demanded money.

An unidentified witness who was inside the store at the time of the robbery told police that once the man received an undisclosed amount of money he shot the clerk in the chest and then ran out of the store.

On Saturday, Meriden police released two photos of Frankie Resto, 36, and video from the EZ Mart surveillance camera.

Police describe Resto as having a violent criminal history and as someone who should be considered armed and dangerous. Resto currently has an active arrest warrant for a violation of probation. There is a $100,000 court set bond for that warrant.

Resto’s whereabouts at this time are unknown. His last known address is believed to be in Meriden or New Britain, police said in a release Saturday.

Resto is described as a light-skinned Hispanic male, 5’7” tall and weighing about 190-200 pounds.

According to police, Resto should not be approached if seen but that anyone who has information on his location or who spot Resto could call their local police department or Meriden Police Det. Dean Benoit at (203) 630-6297.

On Friday, a local businessman, who wishes to remain anonymous,  for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual who shot and killed Ghazal.

Meriden police have arrested Willie Breyette, 25, in connection with a robbery and shooting death of a local convenience store owner, according to police.

Breyette, of New Britain, is charged with being an accomplice to first-degree robbery and hindering prosecution, according to Meriden Det. Lt. Mark Walerysiak.

On June 27, and killed by at 271 E. Main St., pointed a handgun at Ghazal and demanded money.

An unidentified witness who was inside the store at the time of the robbery told police that once the man received an undisclosed amount of money he shot the clerk in the chest and then ran out of the store.

On Saturday, Meriden police released two photos of Frankie Resto, 36, and video from the EZ Mart surveillance camera.

Police describe Resto as having a violent criminal history and as someone who should be considered armed and dangerous. Resto currently has an active arrest warrant for a violation of probation. There is a $100,000 court set bond for that warrant.

Resto’s whereabouts at this time are unknown. His last known address is believed to be in Meriden or New Britain, police said in a release Saturday.

Resto is described as a light-skinned Hispanic male, 5’7” tall and weighing about 190-200 pounds.

According to police, Resto should not be approached if seen but that anyone who has information on his location or who spot Resto could call their local police department or Meriden Police Det. Dean Benoit at (203) 630-6297.

On Friday, a local businessman, who wishes to remain anonymous, for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual who shot and killed Ghazal.