HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The Hartford Police Department is investigating a homicide in the city that left one person dead and another injured in a shooting on Sunday.
Police responded to the area of Washington Street and New Britain Avenue just before 3 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man on the sidewalk semi-coherent. Police said people in the area directed officers to the third-floor apartment at Washington and School streets.
In the apartment, officers found a man in his twenties who was also shot. The man, 30-year-old Jaime Holmes, died from his injuries.
Police discovered narcotics in the building. While this could be a motive, its too early in the investigation to say for sure, police said.
The 30-year-old man injured on the sidewalk was transported to a hospital where he is listed in critical condition.
One woman, who is a neighbor that didn’t want to be identified, said she walked out of her home to see flashing lights and crime tape blocking the streets.
“It’s crazy, and there’s kids here, you know?” she said. “It’s ridiculous.”
The incident marks the 15th homicide in the city of 2022 — this is an increase of 11 from the same time last year. Additionally, it’s the third homicide in less than a week. On Tuesday, a 59-year-old fell victim to a drive-by shooting on Zion Street. Then on Friday, a 24-year-old man was shot and killed in his car on Bellevue.
“A lot of these homicides that we see, their motives are different,” Hartford Police Department Lt. Aaron Boisvert told News 8. “Some are drug-related, some are robberies. Again, it’s a tough year, it’s a tough challenge. It’s not just Hartford, it’s everybody. Everybody’s dealing with the same uptick in violence.”
Boisvert noted that the department just started an initiative that places officers from multiple divisions on the street throughout the evening and morning hours seven days a week. However, he’s still concerned as we head into the summer.
“You put people where intel tells you where to put them in hot zones, and then you’ll have a homicide four blocks away,” Boisvert said. “It’s just, it’s very frustrating.”
The woman, who lives in the surrounding area, said that she prays every day.
“I’m sad and broken about it,” the neighbor said. “And scared, you know? Scared to come out.”
The suspect remains at large.
This is an active investigation. Anyone with information about what happened is urged to call the HPD Tip Line at (860) 722-TIPS (8477).
Stay alert for updates with WTNH in the News 8 app.