HARTFORD — Hartford police are investigating two deadly shootings which took place within eight hours of each other on Tuesday.
A 32-year-old victim was shot just before midnight on South Prospect Street and he was pronounced dead at 12:34 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Police identified the victim as William Prieto, 32, of Hartford.
Multiple 911 calls were made just before midnight Monday night at the Sheldon Oaks affordable housing complex on South Prospect Street. Responding officers found a man with multiple gun shot wounds to his torso.
Police believe the victim was targeted.
The housing complex is behind the Dr. Ramon E. Betances School. Police said the area rarely has any problems or police calls. It is mostly surrounded by state buildings.
"I have a child that walks to school so who knows what time of day they could have been shooting out here. And he walks to and from school every day. So, it's very scary,” Sherrail, a resident who only gave her first name, said.
The second shooting happened on Pershing Street, around 8:00 a.m., police said.
A 32-year-old man was shot once in the head, according to police. Desmond Wright, 32, of Hartford was transported to St. Francis hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 8:36 a.m.
Store owners on Blue Hills Avenue, just a few blocks from Pershing Street, said the recent rash in violence has been bad for business.
“How much more are people going to bare? Sooner or later we won`t have any business. What`s going to happen to the area? We need help,” salon owner Joy Watkins-Jones said.
The shootings mark the 23rd and 24th homicides of 2015 in Hartford. Both shootings remain under investigation, and no arrests have been made.
Mothers United Against Violence will be holding a candlelight vigil for William Prieto at 52-K Prospect St. in Hartford on Wednesday, September 2, at 6:30 pm.
