New London police take December murder suspect into custody

Jamir Johnson, a 19-year-old man who police say fled New London after fatally shooting a man in December and who has been in the custody of the Halifax Police Department in Massachusetts since July 31, was transferred to New London police and officially was charged with murder Tuesday.

Johnson, for whom New London police originally issued a warrant in May and early on identified as a person of interest, is accused of shooting and killing Quvonte Andre Gray, who was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in a basement apartment at 4 Orchard St. on Dec. 9.

New London police are charging Johnson with murder, possession of a pistol without a permit and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

New London police Chief Peter Reichard previously said that following the shooting and prior to issuing a warrant, the police department tried talking to Johnson “a number of times to come in and turn himself in ... to no avail.”

Johnson then was arrested on July 31 in Halifax after the south shore community saw a string of car burglaries and houses broken in to.

Johnson, who the Halifax Police Department stated burglarized more than 50 cars, was charged in Massachusetts with breaking and entering, possession of burglary tools, failure to identify, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property and being a fugitive from justice.