Arrest made in memorial shootout
Feds: At least 9 caught on video drawing guns at gathering in April
A Hartford man is charged with firearm offense stemming from April shootout in the city, according to federal authorities.
Kejuan Williams, 29, of Hartford, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in New Haven, according to federal authorities.
The indictment was returned on May 24; Williams has been in custody since his federal arrest on May 12.
Federal authorities, citing court documents, said that, on April 18, after “an unidentified shooter opened fire at individuals who were standing in a parking lot outside of a memorial gathering in Hartford, surveillance cameras at the location recorded at least nine individuals drawing firearms, and some of them returned fire.”
Authorities said Shot Spotter technology recorded about “50 shots fired within approximately 90 seconds in and around the location, and law enforcement recovered at least 31 shell casings from the scene.”
“Williams was present at the memorial gathering and was recorded on video brandishing a handgun and firing approximately eight times at the fleeing assailant” and then fled the scene, authorities said in a statement.
Hartford police found Williams’ car near a restaurant on Westland Street on April 21, and Williams “was found inside the restaurant crouching behind a counter,” the statement said. Officers apprehended Williams and allegedly seized a loaded Taurus G2C 9mm handgun on the ground where Williams had been crouching.
Authorities said an analysis of the shell casing fired from the seized handgun revealed it matched shell casings recovered from the shooting on April 18.
“This is another great example of technology, forensics and great police work coming together to take dangerous persons off the street and make our community safer,” Hartford Police Chief Thody said in the statement. “We appreciate our federal partners for all that they do.”
If convicted, Williams faces up to 10 years in prison.
Another individual alleged to be involved in the April 18 shooting incident is detained in federal custody on a federal supervised release violation, authorities said. “It is alleged that surveillance video shows (the suspect) brandishing a handgun and holding a young child while facing oncoming gunfire.”
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Avery, said, “Gunfire erupting at a memorial service attended by families and young children cannot be tolerated in any community.”
“The reckless shooting event on April 18 may cause lasting trauma to all who witnessed it. Based on the number of shots fired, it is fortunate that no one lost their life and only one individual was injured,” Avery said in the statement. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to using the full weight of federal law to help bring an end to this senseless violence.”
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Hartford Police Department.