Suspect identified in killing in New Britain
Man distinguished in surveillance video for his one arm, prior police interactions
NEW BRITAIN — Investigators quickly identified a suspect in Tuesday’s killing when they distinguished the man on surveillance video for his one arm and past police interactions, arrest records show.
Justin Hapgood, who police said lost his arm when he was the victim of a home invasion last year, was charged Wednesday with the slaying of 34-yearold Erik Rivera, police said. During a brief arraignment hearing Thursday in Superior Court in New Britain, a judge set Hapgood’s bail at $2 million and continued his case to Feb. 4.
Hapgood, in a pale-blue jumpsuit with shoulderlength dreadlocks, stood quietly during the hearing.
More than a dozen members of Rivera’s family sat quietly in the courtroom gallery while Hapgood faced the judge. As they left the courthouse, they declined to talk at length about Rivera’s death but described him as an “excellent man” who would give anyone the shirt off his back.
Hapgood, of Arch Street, faces charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Police said that Hapgood and Rivera knew each other. A 17-year-old boy has also been charged with accessory to murder in connection with Rivera’s death, according to police.
Hapgood’s attorney, Chester Fernandez, questioned what he said is a lack of video evidence showing his client fired the gun and said it could be inferred that one of the witnesses may have shot Rivera.
Prosecutor Brett Salafia refuted Fernandez, pointing to statements implicat-
ing Hapgood. He told Judge Joan K. Alexander: “This is ... a strong case” when arguing for a high bail.
An officer, responding to shots he heard fired on North Street Tuesday about 7:30 p.m., saw Rivera collapse in the street.
He attempted to help Rivera, who was transported to Hartford Hospital, where he died the next day.
Reviewing security footage, investigators saw Rivera walking on North Street with three other people following him. The four entered a gravel lot at 236 North St., outside the view of the camera, and minutes later Rivera stumbled back out, falling to the street.
Investigators wrote they were quickly able to identify Hapgood as one of the three men with Rivera because he does not have a right arm and they had past interactions with him.
Hours after the shooting, Hapgood returned with his girlfriend and the 17-year-old boy while police were still in the area gathering surveillance video, the affidavit read. Investigators recognized the 17-year-old boy as another one of the people in the surveillance video.
They agreed to be taken to police headquarters where they were interviewed. The affidavit said that as they were questioned by investigators, they both initially provided statements that were untrue.
Eventually, the 17-yearold told investigators that the shooting victim had first pressured him to buy marijuana and then tried to lure him to the back of a market in what the boy thought was a robbery setup, the affidavit read.
The boy told the detectives he mentioned the attempted robbery to Hapgood, known as “Bully,” and Hapgood became enraged, the affidavit read.
In an attempt to calm Hapgood, the boy said he suggested he and Hapgood buy a bottle of liquor from a store up the street, the affidavit said.
As they walked down North Street, Rivera approached and “pestered” them and the boy told investigators that Hapgood confronted him in the gravel lot, the affidavit said.
During the confrontation, the boy told Hapgood “look in my eyes and do what you gotta do,” and then Hapgood took out the gun and fired it a half-dozen times, according to the affidavit.
Another witness told investigators that Rivera did not try to rob the 17-year-old boy, but the boy’s insistence that Hapgood do something prompted the shooting, according to the affidavit.
Investigators reviewed recordings on Hapgood’s cellphone, in which the 17-year-old tells another person that Hapgood shot Rivera, the affidavit said.
After he was presented with the recordings and accusations, Hapgood admitted to investigators that he fired the gun, the affidavit said.
When they tried to get a written statement, Hapgood recanted his admission, saying he did not shoot Rivera.
The other witness said he saw Hapgood pull the trigger but at first it did not go off, the affidavit said. He then told investigators the 17-year-old boy racked the gun and Hapgood fired again, letting at least five rounds.
Police reported finding six shell casings in the gravel parking lot.
Capt. Jeanette Portalatin, head of the police department’s criminal investigation division, said that detectives worked through the night Tuesday on the murder investigation.
The investigation, she said, remains ongoing.
The killing was the first homicide in New Britain in more than a year, officials said.
Justin Hapgood admitted to investigators that he fired the gun, the affidavit said. When they tried to get a written statement, Hapgood recanted his admission.