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The death of Wayne Bentley, 42, of West Haven, was ruled a homicide, city spokesman Brett Broesder said Sunday evening. His body was pulled from the water behind Chubby’s Bar & Grill at 3488 Fairfield Ave. by Bridgeport firefighters.
This was the 11th homicide of the year in Bridgeport, according to city officials, more than double the number at this point last year, The Daily Voice previously reported.
Police said the witness early Saturday heard a large splash, which he thought meant someone had gone into the water, in the vicinity of Chubby's Bar & Grill.
He then heard a few smaller splashes, leading him to believe that someone was leaving the water, police said.
Then he told police he heard another big splash. And then nothing, police said.
The witness also said that police responded to the scene quickly, arriving within minutes, police said.
The Bridgeport Police Department received a call at 1:15 a.m. Saturday a fight behind Chubby’s, Broesder said previously.
A fight in the bar had spilled outside, and the two people involved fell into the waters of Ash Creek behind the restaurant, Broesder said.
The other person involved in the fight fled the scene, Broesder said. Police are continuing to actively search for that person, Broesder said.
Bridgeport Police, Fire, and AMR – as well as the Fairfield Police – responded to the scene of the apparent drowining.
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