Police say they have made a third arrest in connection with the Aug. 9 West Indian Day Parade shooting that left one youth dead and six others wounded, including a toddler and a 7-year-old.
Detectives with the Hartford police Major Crimes Division on Wednesday arrested 17-year-old Chad Adgers, of Hartford, pictured at right.
He faces six counts of accessory to assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, and risk of injury to a minor. Police said Adgers is being held on a $500,000 bond.
In a written statement, Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts said the “arrests show the public and victim’s families that they can be sure that the men and women of the department will not rest until all individuals responsible for these shootings are brought to justice I am very proud of how resolute the men and women of the department have been in their quest to rid our streets of these dangerous individuals.”
The first two youth charged in connection with the shootings were Michael Ledbetter of Hartford and Sylvester Burrell of Bloomfield, both 17. Burrell faces the same charges as Adgers.
Ledbetter, pictured at right, faces similar counts but additionally is charged with murder. He is being held on $2 million bond and is described by police as a youthful offender who is on probation and who also is known to be a member of the local “West Hell” street gang.
Authorities said detectives have probable cause to believe Burrell was at the scene of the shooting with a firearm.
No information was provided in today’s news release on gang affiliations for Burrell, pictured below right, or Adgers, if any exist.
The Aug. 9 incident drew angry responses from community members and clergy who decried the shooters for their willingness to open fire on crowded Main Street near the corner of Cleveland Avenue despite the presence not only of children, but also of numerous police officers on the parade route.
Police said Ledbetter was taken into custody Aug. 27 near Bowles Park in Hartford’s north end after detectives with the HPD Major Crimes Division obtained an arrest warrant.
Ezekiel Roberts, 21, was killed in the shooting and was believed to be the target. He was a distant relative of HPD Chief Daryl Roberts.
After the shooting started, at least one individual reportedly ran away from the incident while blindly firing a handgun behind himself into the crowd. It’s not clear whether Ledbetter, Burrell, or Adgers are the youth described in that report.
Other Aug. 9 victims include:
-Zinia Jackson, 15 months, of Hartford, gunshot wound to lower extremity
-Tyreke Marquis, 7, of Hartford, gunshot wound to the head
-Tafari Jackson, 15, of Bloomfield, gunshot wound lower extremity
-John Gibson, 16, of Windsor, gunshot wound to lower back
-Quarnell Smith, 16, of Hartford, gunshot wound to lower extremity
-Angelique Green, 17, of Hartford, gunshot wound to lower extremity
Anyone with information that may assist authorities in holding accountable those responsible for the shootings is asked to contact Major Crimes Division Supervising Sergeant Rob Davis at 860-757-4256, or Crime Stoppers at 860-722-TIPS.
More on the parade shootings:
Aug. 11: Hartford officials say shooting could have been avoided (story & video)
Aug. 12: Hartford rallies against violence (story & video)
Aug. 12: Mayor writes governor, chief justice about failure of bail system
Aug. 15: Kirkley-Bey talks about ending the cycle of violence (video)
Aug. 19: Clergy critical of governor after Hartford shooting (story & video)
Aug. 28: Hartford police ID youth arrested in Aug. 9 parade shootings
Sept. 5: Hartford police make 2nd arrest in parade shootings
