Danbury Police said David Grullon Jr. voluntarily turned himself in around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
He's been charged with several offenses, including second-degree manslaughter, criminal possession of a pistol/revolver, two counts of risk of injury to a minor, and illegal discharge of a firearm.
Video in the media player above is from a previous story.
Police say Grullon Jr., who lives at 43 Lake Ave., fired a gun in his apartment, which went through the wall and killed his next-door neighbor, 37-year-old Victor Quispe, around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.
"He was handling the firearm and was shocked that it went off," said Grullon Jr.'s defense attorney, Gene Zingaro. "This wasn't playing around. He was by himself. My understanding is he wasn't intoxicated."
Grullon's lawyer says his client panicked because was out on bond for a pending case where he's charged with assault and witness intimidation. Grullon also has two prior felony convictions for assault which is why prosecutors argue he shouldn't have been in possession of a firearm.
"The state has serious concerns about his ability to come to court, to abide by court orders, and the state has serious concerns for the public safety," said Deputy State Attorney Mary-Caitlin Harding.
Grullon wiped tears from his eyes listening to his lawyer explain that the man he is charged with shooting wasn't just a neighbor, he considered Quispe a friend.
"They were friendly. They were at a stage in their lives where they didn't know each other a long time, but they were at a stage in their lives where they were both expecting," Zingaro said.
Even the judge acknowledged the unusual nature of the case.
"This is truly a tragic situation. I could not underscore that enough," said Danbury Superior Court Judge Thomas Saadi.
Grullon Jr. is currently being held on $1 million bond, $300,000 cash, which includes a gun-related bond enhancement.
As for Quispe, there are memorials outside his door in his condo complex, and a larger one at the barbershop where he worked.
His fiancé, who is expecting a child, declined to talk, but has set up a GoFundMe describing her loss as unimaginable.
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