Reeti Malhotra, Contributing Photographer

New Haven police officers investigating a recent flurry of fatal shootings near downtown have made three arrests, including of a man charged with murder in a double homicide, Chief Karl Jacobson announced at a Monday press conference.

Five people were killed in just over two weeks ending on Sept. 1, when the most recent homicide took place near Chapel Street and Ellsworth Avenue. Police have not released the victim’s name.

At a Sept. 2 press conference, Jacobson said the city police would dispatch more officers to monitor downtown. While monitoring the area this weekend, officers seized two guns and arrested three people, he said at Monday’s press conference.

“We have drones, we have plainclothes officers, we have uniformed officers and we’re going to continue to keep downtown safe,” Jacobson said.

Sergio Thomas, 39, was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the Aug. 25 fatal shootings of Daiquan Hyman, 26, and Ernest Williams, 32, on Dickerman Street, Assistant Chief David Zannelli said at Monday’s press conference.

Zannelli said the shooting followed an argument among a group of men.

Officers took Thomas into custody on Friday in Waterbury and are holding him under a $3 million bond, according to Zannelli.

Thomas’s attorney could not be reached for comment.

At Monday’s press conference, Jacobson also announced two arrests in connection with the Aug. 17 killing of 18-year-old Dillon Cornelius between Crown and Chapel streets —  a five-minute walk from Old Campus. Neither of the two people were suspected to have shot Cornelius.

A 19-year-old suspect faces three felony charges and one misdemeanor charge for allegedly tampering with physical evidence, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal possession of a fire rate enhancer — a device that boosts guns’ firing rate — and the criminal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Police also arrested a 25-year-old suspect, who wears an SOB bracelet, for taking off a location-tracking device and violating his parole, according to Jacobson. He was at the scene of the Aug. 17 shooting and police believe he fired rounds, Jacobson said, citing video footage.

New Haven police initially linked Cornelius’ death to an ongoing dispute between neighborhood groups. The police identified one of those groups as “Stand on Business” at Monday’s press conference. Cornelius and the two people arrested were allegedly members of the organization, according to Jacobson.

“We’re still taking measures to stop the retaliation,” Jacobson said, alluding to police concerns about further gun violence involving the Stand on Business group. “We still have a strong presence downtown.”

Officers have solved five of the 13 homicides that have occurred in New Haven so far this year. The remaining eight are still under investigation, Jacobson said.

The press conference took place at the New Haven police’s headquarters at 1 Union Ave.