Whaley Avenue Convenience Store Robbed at Gunpoint on New Year's Eve

NEW HAVEN, CT — Police are searching for a suspect who robbed a convenience store at gunpoint along Whalley Avenue on New Year's Eve, leaving employees shaken but uninjured.

The armed robbery took place on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 31, 2025. According to the New Haven Police Department, an unidentified male suspect entered the convenience store, walked up to the counter, and brandished a handgun. The suspect demanded that the cashier empty the cash register, threatening violence if the worker did not comply. The employee followed instructions, handing over an undisclosed amount of cash before the suspect fled the scene on foot.

Multiple police units responded to the location and conducted a search of the immediate area, but no suspect was located. Detectives are now reviewing video footage from the store's security cameras as well as street cameras along the busy Whalley Avenue commercial corridor. The suspect is described as a male wearing dark clothing, a hood, and a face mask.

Community members and local business owners on Whalley Avenue have voiced concerns over the brazen nature of the daytime robbery. Police are asking merchants to remain vigilant and ensure their security systems are operational. Anyone with information regarding the identity or whereabouts of the suspect is urged to contact New Haven detectives.