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Sunday, June 28, 2015

FROM HPD: DETAILS OF RAWSON SCHOOL HOMICIDE

HPD Deputy Chief Brian Foley addresses the media after the deadly shooting on the basketball court at Rawson School
 
The details:
 
On Saturday, June 27, 2015, at 4:30pm Hartford Police Department Patrol Officers and Shooting Task Force Detectives responded to the basketball court at 260 Holcomb Street after several 911 calls for shots fired. Upon arrival, officers encountered a chaotic scene with numerous individuals fleeing from the basketball court area of the school. A basketball tournament was being held at this location with hundreds of people attending. Officers located a male victim (Identified as James Headen, 41 of Hartford) suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to St. Francis Hospital via ambulance. As this was occurring, 3 other victims arrived separately at St. Francis by private vehicles. These 3 victims were each suffering from non-life threatening gunshot wounds. At 10:49pm James Headen was pronounced deceased.

 

Victims:

James Headen, 41 of Hartford, was shot in the head. (Pronounced deceased at 10:49pm)

Justin Jones, 23 of Hartford, was shot in the hip/groin. (Stable, admitted, non-life threatening)

Shawn Patterson, 24 of Hartford, was shot in the hand. (Treated and released)

Roosevelt Holmes, 23 of Windsor, was shot in the calf/ankle area. (Treated and released, taken into police custody)

 

Detectives from the Major Crimes Division and Crime Scene Division began the investigation. During the course of the investigation, it was learned that a basketball tournament was taking place at a basketball court adjacent to the Rawson School when the shooting occurred. Major Crimes Detectives, STF  Detectives and patrol officers all received information that Roosevelt Holmes a.k.a. “Roe” became involved in a dispute while the tournament was taking place. (It is, at this time, unclear who this dispute was with, but it does not appear that it was with any of the other victims) Holmes was not a participant in the tournament. The dispute escalated and numerous shots were fired. This is when James Headen, who by all accounts was an innocent bystander, was struck in the head. This is also when the other 3 victims were struck by gun fire.

 

At St. Francis, Patrol Officers detained the transporting vehicles and drivers. Evidence, to include at least one firearm believed to be involved in this incident, was secured. This firearm was found in the vehicle which delivered Roosevelt Holmes to the Hospital. Upon release from the hospital, Holmes was taken to the HPD Major Crimes for interview. Following the interview he was placed under arrest and charged, held on a $1,000,000 bond. Holmes , a convicted felon, could potentially face further charges.

Charges:

1.       Criminal Possession of a Firearm

2.       Criminal Attempt/Assault First Degree

3.       Reckless Endangerment First Degree

4.       Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm

 

This investigation is ongoing. We are asking for any witnesses to please reach out to the Hartford Police Department. We believe that video evidence exists to this event. We are asking for any assistance in obtaining this video. Anonymous sources can contact HPD anonymously at our website. The Major Crimes Division is continuing to investigate this homicide and the investigation is progressing.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Chickens have come to roost you better believe it's gonna get worse and how in God's earth did the PD did not know about this event? Goes to show that the community does not have a rapore with the PD, wow Chief Rovella how come no community leaders asked you to have a police detail out there? I see all these unmarked police vehicles driving around the city on the city dime but none of them could be here on this day? What a joke you can't blame this one on the Mayor I blame the community for not policing itself and the PD for not showing any presence over there. Lol let's not forget that idiot Brian Foley said the city doesn't need more police, I bet if these thugs in the north end of Hartford started shooting at all the white people commuting down Albany Avenue Monday through Friday you would see some changes real quick, that is bot a proactive police department that is a reactionary police department and it's a damn shame. Why don't you hire some cops who actually can relate to the community where the residents will give them a heads up on events like this but guess what it's gonna get worse!!!!!

peter brush said...

I bet if these thugs in the north end of Hartford started shooting at all the white people commuting down Albany Avenue Monday through Friday you would see some changes real quick
-----------------
Nice.

Some people complain that "black lives" don't matter" when the cops are aggressive, and complain that the cops lack "rapore" when they don't prevent what appears to have been random black-on-black violence. If I were a cop under those circumstances I'd be tempted to tread very lightly if I could; try to avoid major ass aches and/or physical injury.
How about keeping the thugs in jail, and off our streets, even if it means sacrificing the "second chance society" some of our liberal pols and social engineers are pushing? And, even if it means that those in jail remain disproportionately "of colour?" Any speculation on whether Roosevelt Holmes has prior arrests?

God Bless Mr. Headen, and sympathies to his family and freinds.

Bruce Rubenstein said...

Anonymous 5:03. actually the Mayor by ignoring the staffing report created the atmosphere for this shooting because the HPD is down about 70 or so cops and don't have enough. Of them out in the street.The Mayor is partly to blame for this recent violence and I am sure that he has not informed the media and the families of the deceased victims that he ignored the staffing report making it a easier possibility for these terrible deaths.

StreetDealer said...

Please send out notice to all violent perps to congregate in front of a certain house on Prospect Avenue.

Anonymous said...

Uh oh Kevin we might a Rodney King incident on our hands two White police officers beat a Black citizen while handcuffed and he was in a choke hold!!!! Stay tuned

KEVIN BROOKMAN said...

it wasn't a black citizen as you stated, it was a convicted felon who seriously assaulted a police officer and landed him in the hospital and then refused to comply with the officers who were ordering him to get on the ground. This "citizen", a convicted felon, smashed in the officer's nose and eye I wonder why that damage to the officer isn't shown on the video at all?

Anonymous said...

Loser.......he was not handcuffed.

Anonymous said...

Kevin ,I cleaned up my comment,hope you post it. When have police details been proven to deter gun violence in Hartford? Its been brought up several times that HPD wasn't notified of this basketball tournament and if so they would have provided a detail officer there. Is there a "unwritten" policy somewhere stating that ,,"whenever 5 or more black males gather together in a confined area they need to be monitored by a police detail" ??? What an insult!!! As far as police details go , they didn't stop multiple people from being shot at the West Indian Parade a few years back and how about the shootout at Papa's Pizza also with multiple victims , THERE WAS A COP 20 YARDS AWAY !

Anonymous said...

I'll say why i think the pd did not know about this. Because there is no longer any respect for police. Its more like we do what we want and you can't do anything about. Its only going to get worse. Look at Baltimore after Freddie Gray, 40 homicides in one month and the police commissioner got fired because of it. He is part to blame. But majority of blame falls on our system. In the liberals. Welcome to the new America where the criminals will rule.