Man Charged in Hartford's 6th Homicide is Suspected Gang Member: Cops

A suspected gang member has been arrested and charged with the murder of another suspected gang member in Hartford. 

Raymond "Cito" Vega, 20, of 11 Benton Street, who was already in prison at Garner Correctional Facility for an unrelated incident, has been charged with the murder of Julius Rivera, 20 on Benton Street on March 23.

Police found Rivera lying on the apartment floor when they responded to 19 Benton Street at 5:52 p.m. on March 23 to investigate a shooting. He'd been shot him multiple times, including in the pelvic area. He was rushed to Hartford Hospital, but he later died there.

Before he passed away, police spoke with him,  but they declined to say what information he provided.

"Dying declarations carry a lot of weight in any investigation," Hartford Deputy Police Chief Brian Foley previously said when asked if the information could have been critical. .

Rivera was the city's sixth homicide victim of the year. that happened during a week when there were two other homicides. A woman was shot and killed on Congress Street that week, as well, and a man died of a gunshot wound to the head on Blue Hills Avenue two days after that.

"It's just tragic that it unfolded in this manner shocking to us, families, victims, and the neighborhood," Foley said.

Rivera was thought to have been a member of the "420" gang associated with that address, according to police. 

Vega, who police believe is affiliated with the Latin Kings gang, lives close to that apartment where the shooting happened and witnesses identified him as the shooter.

Major Crimes Division homicide detectives are overseeing the investigation.

A judge signed off on an arrest warrant.

Vega was held in custody on a $1 million bond.

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