Hartford police are investigating the city's 19th homicide of the year after a 47-year-old man was found shot dead in a minivan in a narcotic-related incident.
The capital city has already seen as many homicides in six months as there were in all of 2014.
The man, identified as Everett Scott, 47, of Hartford, was shot in the chest in broad daylight around 2 p.m. Sunday in the area of Kenyon Court, Hartford Deputy Chief Brian Foley tweeted.
Police found Scott in a vehicle and EMS transported him to St. Francis Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Patrol officers spent Sunday "canvassing for witnesses, suspects, anyone that could help us out with the investigation," Hartford police Sgt. Paul Cicero said.
"It’s heartbreaking. It’s definitely sad," Eliezer Mercado, of community group My Brother's Keeper, said.
Police said it's too early to know what led to the shooting, but drugs were found in the area and evidence suggests that the crime was connected to a drug transaction and robbery.
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This deadly period of violence in Hartford is frustrating to neighbors and people who are working to make this community safer.
“To know we’re trying to do our best and these crimes continue to happen it’s definitely heart-breaking," Mercado said. "And I hope that people would stop the violence, put the weapons down.”
Hartford police had cleared the scene as of 6 p.m. They continue to look for the shooter and no suspects have been identified at this time.
Members of My Brother's Keeper say somebody out there knows something about the latest homicide in the capital city and are calling for those people to come forward.
"If you see something, say something," Mercado said. "I know the streets say snitches get stitches, but we want to say if you witness something say something."
The homicide remains under investigation. Police ask anyone with information to call the department.
The shooting comes just days after Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra requested more help from the state to stop the surge of violence happening in Hartford recently. At this point, it's unclear what new steps will be taken to curb the violence in Hartford.
"Extremely concerned about it, working very hard to make sure that we work together with our state partners and our community, Segarra said. "That is how we drove down the number of homicides in previous years and that's what we aggressively need to do again."
Police ask anyone with information to call the Hartford Police Department or submit a tip through the Hartford Police Web site.
