HARTFORD, Conn. — Hartford police are investigating a homicide that happened in the area of Washington Street and New Britain Avenue in Barry Square Sunday afternoon.
Officials say they received many shots fired calls before 3 p.m. and found a victim with a gunshot wound on the sidewalk outside 451 Washington Street. The man was semi-coherent and is in critical condition at the hospital, police say.
Bystanders then directed them to the third-floor apartment where they found a deceased male. Both victims were 30-years-old. Police identified the man shot and killed as Jaime Holmes of East Hartford.
No weapons were found and police say they are waiting for a search warrant. Officers observed narcotics in "plain view" while attending to the victim upstairs.
Officials say the suspect(s) got away and have no information at the moment.
This is Hartford's 15th homicide of 2022 and police say the number was at 11 this time last year.
"Very concerning," Lieut. Aaron Boisvert said. "We have a summer initiative that began in the beginning of May that places multiple officers from multiple divisions on the street. Well out through the evening, early morning in the hours. Seven days a week. It’s just been a tough year."
He said officers were near the area as Barry Square is a "hot zone" in the city. Hyacinth Yennie with the Maple Avenue Revitalization Group, working to prevent crimes from happening in Barry Square, says she was suspicious of the building and had spoken to the owner about the tenants.
"It’s a public health crisis. When somebody just takes a gun and shoots another person because of either drugs or money or whatever the case may be, it is something," she said. "There’s always something hidden in Barry Square that perhaps I don’t see."
She says this is not an issue police can solve on their own. They rely on community members to report what they see.
The group also encourages people to stay active in their community and get kids involved with groups and organizations.
"We work really hard in our neighborhood to keep it safe and so when things like this happen it does raddle you," she said.
This is a developing story.
Tony Black is a multi-media journalist at FOX61 News. He can be reached at tblack@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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