Norwalk police are searching for the suspect who they say gunned down a man overnight, marking the city's first homicide of 2012.

The shooting happened along the Norwalk River behind the Avlon Gates Apartments, leaving 20-year-old Joseph Bateman dead, investigators say.

According to one local man, Bateman's murder is directly connected to another crime.

In 2008, 17-year-old Tykwan Hunt was shot to death at a party. A jury found Amos Brown, Jr. not guilty in the shooting by reason of self defense. In August of 2010, Brown was murdered. His killer has never been found.

Brown's father, Amos Brown, Sr., says Bateman was his son's friend and key witness in his case.

While police are not ruling out that Brown's case may be linked to Bateman's murder, they say it is too early to tell.

So far, no arrests have been made, but detectives say they are actively pursuing several leads.