Man Arrested in Quadruple Shooting That Killed 1 Outside Hartford Elementary School

One of the four people who were shot during a basketball tournament near a Hartford elementary school on Saturday afternoon has been arrested in connection with the case and police are looking into whether he shot himself.

Hartford police arrested convicted felon Roosevelt "Roe" Holmes, 23, of Windsor, on Sunday morning in connection with Hartford's 14th homicide of the year.

One man was killed in the shooting. James Headen, 41, of Hartford, was shot in the head and died. 

Holmes suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and two others were injured.

They said there was no  evidence of a second shooter at the beginning of the investigation, but now say they are looking into whether there is a second shooter or whether Holmes shot himself.

Hartford police received 911 calls around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, reporting multiple shots fired and several victims at a city park adjacent to the Sarah J. Rawson Elementary School at 260 Holcomb Street.

Police arrived to observe a chaotic scene as many people fled the basketball court near the elementary school. The "Heat on the Street" basketball tournament was taking place at the time with hundreds of spectators, but it was not officially sanctioned.

“Hundreds of people were there, we don’t have one witnesses coming to our door at this point and knocking on it," Hartford Deputy Police Chief Brian Foley said. "We know this tournament gets videotaped every year. We are asking for the promoter to come to the police station and tell us everything he knows.”

An ambulance transported Headen to St. Francis Hospital, where he was was pronounced dead at 10:49 p.m. on Saturday. Police said he, "by all accounts was an innocent bystander," as were the other victims.

Holmes and the other two people shot, Justin Jones, 23, of Hartford, and Shawn Patterson, 24, of Hartford, have non-life-threatening wounds.

Jones is in stable condition in the hospital and being treated for a gunshot wound to the hip/groin.

Patterson has since been released from the hospital after being shot in the hand. 

Holmes was treated for a gunshot wound to the calf/ankle and was immediately taken into police custody to be interviewed. Police then arrested him.

Police learned in the investigation that Holmes got into a dispute during the basketball tournament.

It's unclear who the altercation involved, but police said it didn't appear to be with any of the other three people shot and Holmes was not playing in the tournament.

The dispute escalated and several shots were fired, striking Headon, Jones and Patterson with gunfire.

The shooting happened on what police consider a quiet street, at a city park that sits right next to an elementary school. Police said they have never been called to a crime in the Blue Hills neighborhood before.

“It’s unfair to the people of this quiet corner of the Blue Hills neighborhood," Foley said. "I can tell you, that’s a good neighborhood. Obviously, it’s unfair to the victims and their families, but it’s unfair to the school. It’s unfair to the people of that neighborhood.”

Holmes, Jones and Patterson were taken to St. Francis in private vehicles. Officers detained those vehicles and the drivers at the hospital. Police said a firearm believed to be connected to the shooting was located in the vehicle that brought Holmes to the hospital.

Hartford police are conducting ballistics tests and said the incident does not appear to be targeted or gang-related, police said.

Police are reviewing evidence and are working to obtain video surveillance from the school.

Hartford major crimes detectives and a shooting task force responded. The crime scene division is also investigating.

Police said they were unaware that the basketball tournament was taking place and said that typically the department likes to be made aware of events that size.

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra expressed outrage at the incident.

"I am not going to allow our children, our community to be threatened in this way," he said. 

The shooting has also angered people who live nearby.

“That could have been anybody, you know what I mean?" Arkeit Iverson, of Hartford, said, calling for what he called senseless violence to stop. "My little cousin was down here and was bringing my son down here, that’s something different.”

People who live near the school said the neighborhood is usually safe.

“Oh, it’s good. Everybody gets together. Usually there are cops sitting on the corner, fire trucks," Morris Knight, of Hartford, said. "You know, everything goes nice and smooth.”

Headen's family was too upset to speak to NBC Connecticut, but a family friend said he was a good person who loved his family.

Police ask anyone with information to call Hartford police, particularly if anyone has cellphone or camera video footage taken at the time of the shooting.

Holmes was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, criminal attempt at first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and unlawful discharge of a firearm. Police are holding him in custody on a $1-million bond.

Police are waiting on lab test results and said might charges against Holmes are possible, as are more arrests in the case depending on the outcome of the investigation.

Hartford police ask any witnesses to contact the department and share any videos potentially taken during the shooting. Tips can also be made anonymously through the police department's website.

Major crimes detectives continue to investigate the homicide.

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