NEW BRITAIN — Five years ago Saturday, Julian Cartie was in Springfield with some friends for a night out when something went horribly wrong. It was about 2 a.m. and Cartie and his friends were headed into a restaurant at State and Main streets in down Springfield.
A moment later, Cartie, 25, was dead, shot three times by a man in a blue Hyundai.
Springfield police have never stopped working the case, but in five years there has been no arrest. Saturday evening, Cartie’s family will visit his grave at Fairview Cemetery in New Britain, and then drive to Springfield for a candle light vigil at State and Main about 5:15 p.m. They’ll pass out fliers about the case, hold up photos of Cartie, pray and hope that someone who knows something about the man who fired three shots into Cartie provides information to police.
“It’s been five years and not a word,” said Michael Peterson, Cartie’s brother. “Literally not a word. Nothing.”
Cartie’s family is convinced that there are people who have information that would help police and are hopeful someone will step forward.
Springfield police agree. “We feel that there are people who have information out there that aren’t being forthcoming,” said Springfield police Capt. Thomas Trites. “We do welcome any tips.”
Police never stop investigating homicides and just recently solved a case from the 1980s, he said. “We never put them away,” he said.
The fatal confrontation occurred as a blue Hyundai with three women and a man in it slowed for a traffic light. Cartie exchanged words with the people in the car, and then a man got out and fired three shots. Cartie was struck twice in the chest and once in the shoulder. The blue Hyundai then sped south on Main Street.
Police and paramedics struggled to save Cartie’s life, but his wounds were too severe. He died before he reached Baystate Medical Center.
Cartie had been a stand out athlete at New Britain High School and was a member of the Connecticut Army National Guard.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Springfield detectives at 413-787-6355.
By David Owens, Hartford Courant