NEW BRITAIN – Nearly six years later, police have identified a suspect in the shooting death of former New Britain High School football star Julian Cartie.
Cartie was shot and killed in Springfield, Mass. in February of 2009.
Monday, Michael Rodriquez, 30, of Bridgeport was arrested and charged with being a fugitive of justice. He will be charged with Cartie’s murder.
He’s being held on $500,000 bond.
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.
Rodriguez will be served with the warrant when he is extradited to Massachusetts, police said.
