A confrontation that began inside the Levels nightclub in Waterbury spilled onto East Main and Wall streets and ended with the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Gregory Rafael Santos-Frias, a Hispanic male. On May 1, 2021, at about 11:30 p.m., Santos-Frias was found with multiple gunshot wounds; officers rendered aid but he died at the scene. Another person suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg.

Investigators identified two suspects. On May 3, 2021, police arrested 41-year-old Charles Smith; he was taken into custody while in possession of a firearm and charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree assault, and weapons offenses. A warrant was later issued for 29-year-old Basil Smith, who was described as armed and dangerous and wanted on murder, conspiracy and assault charges; he was apprehended in Mississippi about a month after the shooting. Surveillance footage reportedly shows both Basil Smith and Charles Smith confronting Santos-Frias before both opened fire, and Santos-Frias was reported to have been shot in the back of the head.

No reliable public timeline is available for outstanding questions about motive and the events inside the club that night. Anyone who was at Levels that evening or who has information about the confrontation is asked to come forward.