On Monday, March 28, 2016, at approximately 4:11pm an HPD Officer assigned to the Private Duty Job at the Walmart Shopping Center (495 Flatbush Ave) was alerted by Walmart employees that someone was shooting in the parking lot. The HPD Officer immediately responded to the parking lot where she located the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his lower torso. EMS was immediately notified. EMS responded and transported the victim to Hartford Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. A crime scene was established and secured by HPD patrol officers. HPD Major Crimes Detectives and HPD Crime Scene detectives arrived and assumed control of the investigation.
On Tuesday morning, March 29, 2016 at approximately 4:00am, the victim, Larry Williams, 34 from New Britain CT, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by Dr. Wolffing at Hartford Hospital.
At approximately 7:33pm, the Hartford Police Department was contacted by an individual, later identified as Kenneth Reid 26, of Windsor, who stated that he was involved in the shooting in the Walmart parking lot and that he shot Williams in self-defense during a drug transaction. HPD Patrol officers made contact with Reid in the area of 367 Farmington Avenue in Hartford. HPD Officers located Reid's White Saturn View SUV. Reid alleged to HPD investigators that there was a shotgun inside his Saturn that was used against him by the victim. HPD Officers secured that shotgun. Reid also directed HPD Officers to the handgun used in the shooting (a 9mm), within his cousin’s apartment at 367 Farmington Avenue. That weapon has also been secured. Reid was also in possession of a have a valid CT firearms permit.
MCD detectives have been working through the night interviewing several witnesses and additional persons of interest that were reportedly involved in the incident. There were numerous pieces of physical evidence located and secured, along with video surveillance of the Walmart parking lot at the time of the shooting.
As a result of the investigation, MCD detectives were able to develop probable cause to arrest and charge Kenneth L. Reid 26 of Windsor CT with one count of Murder 53a-54a. Reid was escorted from Major Crimes to the HPD Booking Facility to be processed for his charges. Reid's bond was set at 1.5 million dollars and he is scheduled to be arraigned in GA14 Hartford Superior Court at 9:30am today.
This investigation is still ongoing. Additional charges and/or arrests are anticipated. If anyone has any information that will assist detectives regarding this case, please call the Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes Div: Sgt Reggie Early at (860) 757-4248.
Victim: Larry Williams, 34 y/o, of New Britain, CT. Injury: Gunshot wounds to abdomen
Arrested: Kenneth L. Reid, 26 of 70 Grande Avenue Windsor, CT. Charges: Murder 53a-54a $1.5 Million Bond
Neither suspect nor the victim resides in Hartford, nor do they have any criminal history with HPD. Based on video, all those involved in this incident were not customers nor employees at any of the many businesses located at 495 Flatbush Ave.
