Police identify shooting victim as Caval Haylett Jr.

The 18-year-old Poughkeepsie High School senior who died after being shot was Caval Haylett Jr., according to City of Poughkeepsie Police Department Acting Chief Thomas Pape.

Haylett was a Poughkeepsie High School varsity basketball player who was shot Wednesday night and died Thursday afternoon. He was remembered as well-liked, a role model and a hard-worker.

“He had a bright future,” said Ralph Coates, president of the Poughkeepsie City School District Board of Education. “He was on track for graduation in June.”

Haylett was shot once in the head, according to Sgt. George Camacho of the City of Poughkeepsie police. An autopsy was performed this morning.

No arrests have been made in the first shooting death of 2016 in the City of Poughkeepsie, according to Pape.

"We're following up on some information received from the public, we're following up on information that we developed ourselves," Pape said. "And of course, we'll be stepping up patrols in the area."

Friday morning, students filed into school through security using metal detectors and wands.

The shooting occurred just before 10 p.m. Wednesday on the 100 block of Winnikee Avenue. Hours earlier, Haylett had played in the Dutchess County Basketball Coaches Association Exceptional Seniors Game, Coates said.

In a statement, Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison said, “The city is committing every resource to bringing this man’s killer to justice.”

Detective Lt. Matt Clark described the area where the incident occurred as “one of the more active areas of the city” for criminal activity. Plans call for increased patrols of the area.

In the wake of the shootings, security Thursday morning was increased at Poughkeepsie High School, Poughkeepsie Middle School and the district’s PACE Academy, Coates said, utilizing metal detectors and wands. The increased measures will remain until further notice, Coates said. District officials also said counseling is being provided to students and staff and the district’s Crisis Response Plan has been activated.

At 9:55 p.m. Wednesday, Haylett was standing with a group of people on Winnikee Avenue when several shots were fired and he was struck, according to police. A second victim, an 18-year-old, was struck in the arm while walking through the intersection of Bement Avenue and Harrison Street.

Police did not know if there were two groups shooting at each other, but they did not believe that either Haylett or the other victim was a target. Police believe other individuals were targets.

Police did not identify the second victim who was injured. The victim was treated and released, and was not a student in the district, Coates said.

Haylett was struck once by gunfire and taken to MidHudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, where he died at 2:57 p.m. Thursday.

“It’s a real sad day for us,” Coates said.

“The entire City of Poughkeepsie mourns with a heavy heart the loss of a young life,” Rolison said in his statement. “Too often, we hear of senseless acts of violence taking the lives of young people in our country. Today, this tragedy has struck our city.”

Abbott Brant: abrant@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4809; Twitter:@AbbottBrantPoJo. John W. Barry: jobarry@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4822, Twitter: @JohnBarryPoJo

Do you have information?

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call them at 845-451-7577.