State to tap federal funds after 2 fatal shootings

HARTFORD — As the city reckons with the shooting deaths of two juveniles — ages 3 and 16 — state officials said they are ready to tap federal COVID recovery money to address the gun violence that persists through the pandemic.

The shootings Saturday, two hours and a mile apart, killed 3year-old Randell Jones, of Hartford, and 16-year-old Ja’Mari Preston, of New Britain. Though initially thought to be unrelated, Hartford police said Monday the shootings appear linked.

As more than 100 people gathered in Hartford’s North End Monday to call for action in the wake of the the shootings, Gov. Ned Lamont said they were again ready to use federal COVID funds to address gun violence, similar to when it spiked last summer.

“We did previously because of the nature of the demand ... in what that meant in terms of spikes of violence going back a few months and we’re ready to do that again as needed,” Lamont said.

The weekend shootings, Lamont said, were a reminder that gun violence has not stopped through the pandemic.

“COVID is not the only thing stealing lives, so is gun violence,” Lamont said Monday during a COVID-19 press conference.

Joining Lamont was Pastor Marichal Monts, whose Citadel of Love church sits blocks from where Randell was shot.

Monts said people need to come together and ask: “Is this the Hartford we want? Is this the Connecticut we want? Is this the world we want, where our children are being killed?”

He went on to say: “It’s one thing where people can make decisions to do certain things, but a 3-yearold, I mean come on. We’ve got to fix this. We’ve got to fix this fast.”

Officers were called to the first of the two shootings shortly before 2:30 p.m. Saturday when gunfire was reported on Nelson Street.

Investigators learned the passenger of a stolen black Honda Accord opened fire on another vehicle that contained two adults and three children, police said.

One of the children, 3-year-old Randell, was rushed to a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds, where he initially was listed in critical condition, but later died.

While Randell was mortally wounded, the others in the car, including children ages 4 and 5, were unharmed, police said.

Major Crimes Division detectives, working with crime scene investigators, are continuing to pursue leads in the case as of Monday.

Police officials said the intended victim of the drive-by shooting fled after the shots were fired. On Monday, Lt. Aaron Boisvert said the man went to the police department and spoke to investigators.

About two hours after Randell was shot, police rushed to a separate shooting about a mile away on Magnolia Street where Ja’Mari was killed. Rifle bullet casings were discovered at the scene, according to police.

Ja’Mari was a student at Capitol Region Education Council schools. CREC Executive Director Greg Florio said Ja’Mari “endeared himself to many staff and students who are devastated by his sudden and tragic death.”

Police said anyone with information on the killings can call the department’s tipline at 860-722-8477.