Community Corner

Ozga's Death Ruled a Suicide

Classmates, friends recall 18-year-old Joseph Ozga as a man "who never failed to make everyone laugh."

UPDATED: 3:02 p.m. Thursday.

Joseph Ozga will be always missed, never forgotten.

That’s evident in the over 1,200 “likes” a Facebook community page honoring the 18-year-old recent graduate of received just 24 hours after he died of a single gunshot wound at his parents' home at 949 South End Road.

Ozga was pronounced dead at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury Tuesday evening, just a few hours after police found him inside his parents home following reports of a “domestic theft” in progress.

Police said Wednesday that the report came from his father Edward Ozga, of 949 South End Road, who called 911 around 2 p.m. on Tuesday and told police that his son was attempting to steal items from the home. Police arrived to find Edward Ozga in the driveway and went inside to find Ozga suffering from a single gunshot wound.

Sgt. Lowell DePalma told the Record-Journal Wednesday that it seemed like a simple domestic case at first. 

"He reported that his son was taking items out of the home without his permission. He wanted him removed," DePalma said.

Police have not classified the shooting yet and an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday. The gun believed to be used in the shooting and other evidence was collected from the house Tuesday evening, but sources close to Ozga said he was not living there due to other problems.

Staff with the Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Farmington said Thursday that Ozga's death "was ruled to be a suicide as a result of a single gunshot wound."

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It didn’t take long for news of Ozga’s death to spread around the community. Ozga was a 2011 Southington High School graduate and volunteer firefighter who was slated to attend Tunxis Community College. Many remembered him as a humorous and athletic kid.

He was a member of the school’s football and lacrosse teams through his sophomore year.

“Joseph was a young man who was well-liked by staff and peers,” School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr. said in a press release. “On behalf of the Southington High School community, my office, and the Southington Board of Education, we extend our sincerest sympathy and offer whatever assistance we can to Joseph’s family and friends.”

The news also touched the fire community where Joseph Ozga had been a volunteer and his father, a former fire captain with Engine Co. 3, is still volunteering.

Many in the community reached out Wednesday to share their condolences and memories of Ozga, with hundreds posting on the Facebook page including his father, who commented that there will be services early next week, although the time has not been established.

“He deserved better than this,” Ozga wrote.

“Although I wasn't friends with Joe, he was in at least one of my classes every year and it seems unreal that he could be gone,” wrote  Tabitha Nolan, a fellow 2011 graduate. “He was always smiling and never failed to make everyone laugh. I could see how much all his friends loved him and how much fun they all had together.”

On Youtube, a poster using the name CSCHI4 remembered Ozga through a montage of pictures set to music. The video can be seen by clicking on the link or at the top of the page.

Another classmate who wished not to be named said in an email Tuesday night that while she didn’t know Ozga all that well, she saw the event as a tragedy.

"Eighteen is way too young, and when something happens to one of our own, it hurts us all. We see this as an angel looking down on the graduating class of 2011 and the rest of the town of Southington," she said.

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